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The
Ills of Urbanization
Written
by Michael Black
Throughout
modern history, artists have always been more than willing to
provide commentary on the impact of urbanization and its effects
on the human condition. Sometimes addressed through style and
other times addressed through content, the pressures put on society
by way of urbanism have been a concern of many artists. The George
Grosz print "Prix 300" by way of both style and content
gives a unique social commentary on the pressures that man now
has to deal with in an urban society.
It is important to first take into account the compositional qualities
of the piece. First and foremost, "Prix 300" is a black
and white print. The fact that the piece uses a print medium is
quite significant because it represents the irreversible effects
of urbanism. In other words, when the artist makes a cut into
a block of wood it cannot be reversed like a painter might cover
up or a drawer might erase and this echoes the irreversible effects
of urbanism. Likewise, the black and white colors also have a
very significant purpose. A vibrant and colorful piece might be
read in an entirely different manner, but the black and white
provide a less than hopeful commentary on the bleakness of where
urbanization is taking our society.
Continue
to Page 2 of The Ills of Urbanization, 3,
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