Untitled (Urban Scene with Subway Entrance) 1934

John Opper made this untitled urban scene with a subway entrance, pulling it from a block with ink. You can imagine Opper working at the surface of the woodblock, gouging out chunks to create these striking contrasts of light and shadow. Look at how the figures emerge from the darkness, their forms simplified into basic shapes. I like how the artist uses high contrast to convey a sense of immediacy and drama, capturing the energy of the city. The dark lines of the subway entrance rise up like a monolith. This reminds me of some German Expressionist prints, where the artists used the starkness of black and white to convey intense emotion. I'm thinking of the way they captured the feeling of modern life. Opper is part of an ongoing conversation, experimenting with methods, and seeing what images emerge. Artists are always inspiring each other, whether they know it or not.