The Story c. 1950s

Harold Persico Paris made this print, called "The Story," and its stark black and white palette and rough carving marks really get under my skin, you know? The way the image is gouged out, not trying to be smooth or polite, feels like a punch in the gut, or maybe a scream. Look at the so-called background, and how the chairs are kind of floating, or falling? There's a real sense of turmoil here. The texture is raw, the surface almost angry. It’s like Paris wasn't interested in hiding the process, but instead wanted to show us the struggle, the labor of making art. It puts me in mind of Kathe Kollwitz, another artist who wasn't afraid to get real about pain and suffering, using printmaking to express the unspeakable. Art like this isn't about being pretty, it's about telling the truth, even when it hurts.