Minstrel c. 1935

Fred Geary's woodcut, 'Minstrel,' is a monochrome scene, a dance between black and white made by carving into wood. The labour of it is apparent, each line a deliberate, forceful cut. Geary isn't afraid of detail, but he also isn't afraid of broad sweeps of tone and texture. Note the confident use of repetitive shapes to create an overall effect. This technique is visible in the lower section showing the audience, where the black mass of the audience creates a patterned edge, almost like a lace trim. The result is a print with a rhythm all of its own, not just of the scene depicted, but in the very way it's made. Reminds me of Jacob Lawrence, actually, in his ability to abstract figures into near-geometric forms.