La Ville
1925
Medium
woodcut on wove paper
Dimensions
plate: 16.3 x 11.2 cm (6 7/16 x 4 7/16 in.) sheet: 24.2 x 18.6 cm (9 1/2 x 7 5/16 in.)
Classification
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Gift of Elizabeth C. Lukacs
Accession Number
1994.35.13
Art Historical Context
Frans Masereel’s 1925 woodcut *La Ville* captures the dynamic energy of the modern city through bold, expressive lines carved into wood and printed on wove paper. As a Belgian artist working in the early twentieth century, Masereel was a master of the woodcut medium, which allowed him to create stark contrasts and rhythmic patterns that convey both the vitality and the tensions of urban life. This small yet powerful print, measuring just over six inches in height, exemplifies his ability to distill complex social scenes into a single, compelling image. Created during a period of rapid industr...