Elizabeth Street, Sydney 1939

Dorrit Black created this print of Elizabeth Street, Sydney using woodblock printing. I love the way Black’s colour choices make the buildings look like they’re breathing in the hot Australian sun. I imagine her in a studio, maybe in a small apartment, with a view of the city. I can see her carving into the wood, carefully considering each line and shape. It’s like she’s trying to capture the essence of the city, not just its appearance. The colours are so vibrant and alive, and I wonder if she mixed them herself. She probably did. Look how she uses these cool blues and greens next to those warm reds and oranges, it’s exhilarating, like a dance. It reminds me of how artists like the German Expressionists were also using colour to express emotion and experience. Artists everywhere keep developing their visual languages through an exchange of ideas and practices.