Arbeiterfrau c. 1929

Karl Wiener made this print, Arbeiterfrau, using woodcut. It's a scene built of contrasts; black versus pale beige, solid forms and hatched textures. The composition really pulls you in, doesn’t it? Take a look at how the artist has carved these parallel lines along the road. The white ink gives it a feeling of a road, curving into the distance, pulling you in. And then, just look at how the artist has used the negative space in the sky to create the eerie feeling. The figure, caught between the factory and some kind of scaffolding – feels hemmed in, burdened by it all. Wiener's style reminds me of Käthe Kollwitz, especially her focus on the everyday struggles of working-class people. Both artists, through their prints, invite us to see the world through a more empathetic lens, recognizing the beauty and the pain in the lives of those often overlooked. I think that's the power of art; it’s an ongoing conversation, across time, about what it means to be human.