Pair of Lady's Shoes 1930

Fiske Boyd made this dynamic print, "Pair of Lady's Shoes," by carving into a block and printing it in black ink. Imagine the artist as printmaker, carefully gouging away at the surface, each cut a commitment. I wonder what Fiske was thinking when he placed these shoes down and immortalized them. Were they his lover's shoes, discarded after a dance? Were they simply the epitome of luxury and style? I am so drawn to the intricate carving: Look at the textures, the contrasts between the stark black lines and the white space, and the delicate floral design on the shoes themselves. The lines capture the textures of the shoes and the surrounding surfaces and plants. These lines not only define form, but also communicate feeling. It reminds me of other artists who’ve taken up printmaking, like Dürer or even contemporary artists playing with the medium today, they are all in conversation, riffing off one another's ideas and techniques. I think art is like that, an ongoing exchange. No one reading is definitive. It’s all in flux.