Backyard Cat (large version) 1931

Lucienne Bloch's "Backyard Cat" from 1931 is a woodcut print that just exudes a certain handmade charm. The contrast is stark, black against white, but it's the way she’s carved the wood that really grabs me. It’s all about process, isn't it? Look at the cat's fur, those tiny, deliberate scratches making up the shadowy depths of the animal. You can almost feel the blade meeting the wood, each cut a decision, an action. And then there’s the washing line, all these crazy graphic marks. The more I look the more I see a connection between Bloch and someone like Elizabeth Catlett, especially in their shared ability to imbue simple scenes with emotional depth and human warmth. It's a reminder that art isn't about perfection; it's about the conversation, the exchange, and the endless possibilities of seeing.