The Storm 1947

Harry Louis Freund created this print, called 'The Storm,' using etching – a printmaking technique that involves using acid to corrode the lines of an image into a metal plate, which is then inked and pressed onto paper. The visual impact of the artwork hinges on this contrast between light and dark, achieved through the density and depth of the etched lines. Notice how the artist manipulates the etching process to convey a sense of turmoil and struggle. See the figures in this print, their bodies rendered with thick, dark lines suggesting weight and exhaustion. They seem caught in the midst of labor and despair. Freund's choice of etching, with its capacity for detailed and textured depictions, serves to underscore the gravity of the scene, and the raw and visceral qualities inherent in the act of manual creation. This print asks us to consider the amount of work involved in both its making, and the scene it represents. In doing so, it challenges us to consider the relationship between labor, art, and social commentary.