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April
Fritz Eichenberg (1901 - 1990)
lithograph on paper, 1937
7 11/16 x 6 1/16 inches

Fritz Eichenberg was born in Cologne, Germany. At age 18, he went to Leipzig to study graphic art. In 1923 he moved to Berlin to marry and work as an illustrator. By 1933, he had been creating cartoons that mocked Hitler, and felt it would be best to leave the country. He briefly traveled to Mexico, Guatemala and New York that year, then went home to get his wife and child. He immigrated to New York in the middle of the Depression, and found work in the WPA graphics program. He began teaching at the New School and in 1947 at the Pratt Institute. He founded the Pratt Graphic Arts Center in 1956. In 1966 he became chairman of Art at the University of Rhode Island. During this time he illustrated more than 100 books with lithographs and wood engravings.

The WPA supplied the wood engraving tools that the artists took home and used to carve the wood blocks. This print shows high contrast between the strong figures in the foreground and the softer textures of the background.

Collection of the Illinois State Museum
photograph by gary Andrashko
ISM Accession #: 1983.61.110

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