Boys Fishing in the Canal c. 1935 - 1943

Minnie Lois Murphy made this compelling image of Boys Fishing in the Canal using woodcut printmaking, although we don’t know exactly when. The whole scene is built from distinct, bold marks. Everything is so sharp, like a memory etched in time. I’m drawn to the way Murphy has rendered the reflections in the water; dark whorls that seem to pull the viewer in. The image is predominantly black and white, but it’s far from simple. The texture created by the woodcut process gives the piece a tactile quality, an almost palpable sense of depth. Even the choice of black and white contributes to the emotional weight of the piece, hinting at a bygone era. It reminds me a little of Jacob Lawrence, especially in the way both artists use narrative and simplified forms to tell stories. Murphy’s work, like Lawrence’s, uses the language of art to speak about history, community, and the everyday experiences of Black life. Art is a conversation, always, and this print adds a vital voice.