Chicago River 1923

George Josimovich created this black-and-white woodcut, ‘Chicago River,’ in 1923, and I can just imagine him carving into that block, wrestling with the material to pull out the image. The bold strokes of black and white create a dynamic composition, almost like the urban landscape is pushing and pulling against itself. I can feel the artist’s hand in the way he's simplified the architectural forms – those skyscrapers, the bridge, and the river itself – into these powerful, almost brutal shapes. It reminds me of the German Expressionists, like Kirchner, who were also grappling with how to represent the modern city. There's a tension here, a sense of the artist trying to capture the energy and chaos of urban life. Josimovich must have been fascinated by the way the city was growing and changing, and this print feels like a way for him to make sense of it all. Isn’t it amazing how artists can speak to each other across time, and how their work can continue to resonate with us today?