Masonry Versus Sky 1936

Arnold Wiltz made this block print, called 'Masonry Versus Sky' in 1936. What hits me first is the amazing contrast between the sharp geometric brickwork and the fluffy, free-form clouds. It feels like a real wrestling match between order and chaos, doesn't it? Check out the bottom of the image, the dark, solid mass of rocks. Each one is carefully outlined, but they're all jumbled together, like a pile of thoughts in your head. Then, look up at the sky. Wiltz uses these horizontal lines to give a sense of depth and distance, so different from the solid wall of bricks. It's like he's saying that even in the most structured environments, there's always room for the unpredictable. This piece reminds me a little bit of Piranesi's architectural prints, that same sense of imposing structure. But Wiltz adds this natural element that Piranesi leaves out. Maybe art isn't about picking sides in a fight, but about seeing the beauty in the struggle itself.