Lions Bridge 1923

This lithograph by Mstislav Dobuzhinsky, titled "Lions Bridge" renders a snow-covered scene in what looks like St. Petersburg entirely through the medium of tiny tiny black dots. The texture achieved is phenomenal, almost like an aerial photograph with the sky appearing as a soft, textured field. Look at how the roofs of the buildings are rendered as if from a distance, almost like gazing upon a miniature world from above. The lion itself is an anchor in the composition, grounded and present. Dobuzhinsky uses these marks to create an atmosphere of stillness and quiet observation. Zooming in on the bridge, the precision and repetition in the design give the image a sense of graphic, stylized realism. It reminds me of Piranesi, maybe crossed with some Thomas Nast political cartoons. Art is a conversation across time and place, it shows us how much we all share and how connected we are. It’s not about answers, it’s about asking the right questions.