Harbor 1939

This color woodcut entitled ‘Harbor’ was made by Leon Bibel. What strikes me most is the overall orchestration of color and form – how shapes intersect and overlap, creating a rhythm that feels both structured and spontaneous. I imagine Bibel carefully carving each block, considering how the colors would interact when layered. What was he thinking about? The labor of the harbor or the people? There's a flattened perspective, almost like looking at a stage set. The colors aren't trying to be realistic – that pinkish lavender feels a little bit off, heightening the dreamlike quality of the scene. This is a beautiful example of an artist using material and process to explore and reveal something about the world, his world. There's a conversation happening here, across time and practice. Bibel's harbor feels like a cousin to Milton Avery's landscapes. Artists looking, seeing, responding, and inspiring each other – that’s what keeps the conversation going.