In the Kitchen 1957 - 1961

Anatoli Lvovich Kaplan made this print, titled 'In the Kitchen' using lithography, a process that thrives on the beautiful tension between intention and accident. Kaplan uses a limited palette, almost monochromatic, but look closer! The texture is everything here. It’s built from a myriad of tiny marks, hatching and cross-hatching, each one a little decision, a little push and pull. Notice how the lines create a sense of depth, how they build up shadows and describe the textures of the room and the figures within it. Take, for instance, the figure in the foreground, cradling the jug. The marks around his face, they’re not just describing his beard, but also this feeling of warmth, maybe even a little bit of weariness. It reminds me of Kollwitz’s prints, that same focus on the dignity of ordinary people, elevated through the artist's attention and care. Art isn't about perfection, it’s about this ongoing conversation, this act of looking and responding, again and again.