Pflugzieher und Weib 1902

This print, "Pflugzieher und Weib" which roughly translates as 'plowmen and women', was etched by Kathe Kollwitz. The earth-tone palette and dense, cross-hatched lines are the result of a process, layers building up to give us this image. You can imagine Kollwitz inking the plate, wiping it, pressing it – so physical! There's so much to see here. Take a look at the bent figure of the man pulling the plow. The sheer labor is etched into every line of his body, from his strained neck to his hunched back. The lines are thick with pain, but also dignity. Notice how the etched lines that make up the ground are rough and uneven, mirroring the difficulty of their work. You can almost feel the weight of the soil, the resistance of the earth. Kollwitz made many prints and drawings, each wrestling with themes of poverty, war, and grief. Think of Goya, another artist who knew how to turn darkness into something profound. Ultimately, it’s up to us to bring our own experiences to this work, and let it challenge and change us. Art is always a conversation.