Joseph and His Brothers VII 1966

Peter Lipman-Wulf made this print, Joseph and His Brothers VII, using a muted palette, with the exception of that brightly colored, bloodied cloth. The somber tones give the piece a weighty, serious feel, like a memory surfacing. The figures huddle together, their faces etched with worry, as they present the garment. Look at how the lines seem to melt and reform, creating a sense of instability. I’m drawn to the stark contrast between the starkness of the figures and the vivid colors of the cloth. The bloody mess is rendered with surprising detail and almost feels like a separate painting. It’s like the horror is concentrated in this one spot, making it impossible to ignore. Lipman-Wulf's prints remind me a little of Käthe Kollwitz’s emotive and socially conscious printmaking. But where Kollwitz is direct, Lipman-Wulf feels more dreamlike and surreal. It makes you wonder what other secrets are hidden beneath the surface.