Untitled (Village or Town in Mountains) 1927

Edgar Miller created this woodcut, ‘Untitled (Village or Town in Mountains)’ in 1927. During the 1920's Chicago was experiencing major social and cultural shifts which impacted the development and the demographics of the city. Miller, deeply involved in the art scene, would have been acutely aware of the growing tension between industrialization and nature, which is palpable in the sharp contrasts and dynamic composition of this print. Look closely and you’ll see how the village is nestled within an imposing, mountainous landscape, perhaps reflecting the artist’s contemplation on the place of community within the immensity of nature and the impact of industrial growth. There's a striking interplay between the graphic precision of the structures and the more organic, almost turbulent rendering of the natural elements. It invites us to consider the complexities of progress and its effect on society. Miller’s print urges us to consider our relationship with the spaces we inhabit.