Untitled (Smelting) 1935 - 1938

Minnetta Good made this lithograph, 'Untitled (Smelting)', sometime in the first half of the 20th century, using only black ink. I'm struck by how she coaxes so many shades of grey from this material, using touch and pressure to create depth. To me, this speaks to the artist's understanding of her materials, and the endless possibilities within constraints. The velvety texture of the lithographic crayon gives the print a dreamlike quality. Take a look at the wispy trails of smoke against the figures. Good renders them with a light, almost ethereal touch. It's not just representational. It has an emotional resonance that draws you into the intensity of the smelting process. It's interesting to think about other artists, like Joseph Stella, who found beauty in industrial subjects. Ultimately this print invites us to find the sublime in the everyday, transforming the mundane into something transcendent.