They Shall Not Pass c. 1937

Paul Weller’s print, They Shall Not Pass, is a powerful statement rendered in stark blacks and whites. I can almost feel the artist etching into the plate, line by line, channeling the energy of the soldiers. Imagine Weller, bent over the printing plate, incising each figure, each frantic line. What was he thinking as he carved out these desperate faces, the chaotic background? It feels raw, urgent. Look at the frenzied lines that create a sense of movement. The men are charging forward, their faces etched with determination and terror. They're literally pushing against an unseen force! The contrast of light and shadow heightens the drama. The artist makes us feel the chaos of battle, the desperation of those fighting for their lives, and I wonder if it captures the spirit of a moment in time or represents a universal struggle. Weller’s work reminds me of Kathe Kollwitz and her exploration of war and social injustice. Like Kollwitz, Weller uses graphic intensity to convey emotion. Each artist engages in an ongoing dialogue, across time and medium, about the human condition. And that, for me, is the enduring power of printmaking.