Eviction! c. 1944 - 1945

Editor: So, this is Charles Surendorf’s woodcut, "Eviction!", from around 1944-45. The stark black and white, along with those jagged lines, creates this overwhelming sense of anxiety and displacement. The figures seem trapped, caught between some domestic interior and a tempestuous exterior. How do you interpret this work? Curator: What I see is a powerful statement on displacement during a period of immense social upheaval, particularly referencing economic struggles of the working class in the USA. The towering staircase, splitting the image, might symbolize the insurmountable obstacles facing this family. We could analyze the figure at the top, possibly representing authority or perhaps resignation. Where do you think she fits into this dynamic? Editor: That’s interesting. I hadn't considered her as a symbol of authority, more as a figure of sorrow, witnessing the event. What about the seemingly surreal elements, like the swirling sky and gnarled roots encroaching on the scene? Do they contribute to the theme? Curator: Absolutely. They amplify the feelings of vulnerability and threat, mirroring the family’s precarious position. Woodcut, as a medium, inherently lends itself to stark contrasts, emphasizing the 'us' versus 'them' narrative, the housed versus the homeless. We must examine how gender and the evident class are performed, constructed in this print. What does the figure of the father suggest to you? Editor: He looks burdened, but determined. Protecting his family, perhaps. It seems like Surendorf is making a strong commentary on social inequality and the human cost of economic hardship. Curator: Precisely! He compels us to confront the systemic forces that render families vulnerable. Consider the historical context. During and after WWII, America was experiencing an enormous societal shift. ‘Eviction!’ becomes an echo of those untold stories, making the artwork a relevant reflection on those who fall through the cracks in capitalism’s structures. Editor: It’s a chilling, potent image. Understanding the socio-political context really unlocks its deeper layers. Curator: Indeed. And that intersection of art and lived experience is precisely where we find its enduring resonance.