Untitled (workers) 1929

Lucienne Bloch made this compelling woodcut, sometime in the 20th century, with the simplicity of just black and white. It’s amazing how much depth she gets. The textures here are everything: rough hatching for the sky, which feels heavy and oppressive, and those vertical lines on the buildings, like ribs or bones. Then there are these dark groups of figures, set against the eerie, light ground, maybe meant to be wet or icy. They feel trapped, like they have no way out. Look at the way she carves those quick, sure lines, giving the buildings so much character and depth. It reminds me of other artists from that time, maybe someone like Jacob Lawrence, who could say so much with just a few bold strokes. This piece has a lot to say, and it doesn’t hold back. It's about labor, community, and the weight of industry.