Undeclared War 1938

William Jacobs made this woodcut, "Undeclared War," in 1938, and it’s all about bold choices. The stark black and white creates drama, and you can almost feel the artist digging into the block. It's a powerful scene, maybe even a bit raw, with the textures adding to the emotional punch. Look at the way Jacobs uses these deep, dark lines to carve out the figures and the city in the background. The contrast is everywhere, creating a chaotic feeling. There are so many little details; the rifles and the faces, the chaos in the sky, it's a lot to take in, but it works. It’s like he’s saying, "Here’s what war really looks like, no holding back." This piece reminds me a little of Käthe Kollwitz, another artist who wasn’t afraid to tackle tough subjects with similar intensity. Art's not always about pretty pictures, right? Sometimes it’s about wrestling with the big stuff, and this print definitely does that.