And She became a Pillar of Salt 1955

Fritz Eichenberg made this print, "And She Became a Pillar of Salt" with wood engraving tools, which are like tiny chisels. Imagine Eichenberg, bent over the block of wood, pushing the tool, paring away at the surface, guided by the black and white contrast he had in mind. He must have thought a lot about light because the white lines really make the image glow. The dark ink feels dense and heavy. The woman is looking back, like she is thinking “should I look, should I not?” There is a sense of drama, the angels in the sky, but also in the sharp cuts of the tool. Other artists like Kathe Kollwitz made similar expressionist prints in Germany around the same time. I think all these artists, working across time, ask similar questions about how images can communicate strong emotions, particularly grief and fear. Woodcuts and engravings like this feel visceral, like they’re trying to get under your skin!