Man in Park 1952

Vera Myhre made this woodcut print of a man in a park using graphic marks, contrasting blacks against creamy whites. Imagine her carving into the block with chisels and gouges, each cut a commitment to the image, until the scene emerges from the wood. I love the solitary mood Myhre evokes, the way the figure is framed by these vertical trees, suggesting a moment of contemplation or escape. I can almost feel the rough texture of the wood, each line bearing the mark of the artist's hand, reminiscent of the German Expressionists like Kirchner or Heckel. The contrast of the blacks and whites emphasizes the stark beauty of the park and the isolation of the figure. This print is part of a larger conversation about human presence in nature, and how our inner states are reflected in the landscapes we inhabit. It’s a reminder that art is not just about what we see but how we feel and how we connect to the world around us.