Burning Autumn Leaves c. 1942

Ethel Magafan made this lithograph titled 'Burning Autumn Leaves', with a stone, some grease and a whole lotta know-how. The smokey greys, achieved through the lithographic process, have a life of their own. See how they blur the line between what’s solid and what’s ephemeral? The woman is captured in a moment, caught between actions, as she feeds the fire. This speaks to the nature of artmaking itself, always in flux, always becoming. Look at the way Magafan coaxes out the textures – the crinkled leaves, the rough weave of the basket, the billowing smoke. Her marks are so controlled, yet they conjure this feeling of wildness and release, so much of the emotion is conveyed through the mark making. It's like watching a drawing breathe. It reminds me of Kathe Kollwitz, another artist who knew how to turn the mundane into something monumental through sheer mark-making skill. Ultimately, this piece shows that art isn't about answers; it's about the questions we ask and how we ask them.