F.D.R. c. 1940

Curator: This bold graphic artwork is a woodcut print titled "F.D.R.," created by William Parker Abbe around 1940. What strikes you first about it? Editor: It’s the sharp contrasts. Stark black and white; drama conveyed through simplification. I feel an almost immediate sense of... defiance. Curator: Yes, the dramatic chiaroscuro immediately draws the eye. Notice how Abbe has reduced Roosevelt’s form to a series of powerful, angular shapes. The bold lines contribute to its modernist sensibility. Editor: That raised hand, for instance – it’s not just a wave, is it? The Capitol dome hovers in the background while vertical lines could either signal a flag, window blinds or prison bars. Is the President a beacon or confined? Curator: An astute observation. Considering its historical context, the symbolism could cut either way. Think about the New Deal, a period of immense transformation and debate. His confident gesture might also evoke leadership. Editor: He's looking up, not out. Almost pleading. I also can’t help but see a crown of thorns embedded on the side of his face – intentional or coincidence? His physical suffering was widely known to the public and informed a great deal about people's relationship to him. Curator: A potent interpretation, connecting personal tribulation with political resolve. And considering Abbe’s choice of medium—woodcut, a technique known for its starkness— perhaps the lack of nuance is purposeful. It conveys the polarizing sentiments of the era. Editor: Precisely. This print doesn’t offer us a straightforward depiction. It compels us to confront the complex legacy of FDR. It’s not just a portrait; it's an iconographic representation of a tumultuous era, condensed into sharp contrasts. Curator: Well observed! Abbe uses an economy of means to represent something that we can easily understand, even today, is highly complex. A valuable perspective on our political past and present.