Speed Skater 1943

Henry Mark made this print, Speed Skater, and he really committed to the spirit of printmaking as a process. The image is built up from separate blocks of color, one on top of the other. Look closely at the skaters’ yellow jacket against the dark background, and you can see how the texture of the paper and the layered colors create a tactile experience. The hand of the artist feels so present. Nothing is concealed. This is art that is about the making, about the doing, about the physical connection between the artist, the material, and the image. The skater’s outstretched arm feels particularly striking. Is he poised to move? Is he about to glide off the paper? This tension embodies the spirit of the whole piece; the dynamism between potential and stasis. I’m reminded of Elizabeth Catlett, who also explored the intersection of art, labor, and everyday life. Like her, Mark celebrates the dignity and grace of ordinary people in motion.