Isac Friedlander Sonnet XCVII Woodcut Print 1930s

Artist: Isac Friedlander (Latvian-American, 1890–1968)
Artwork Title: Son. XCVII (Sonnet 97)
Period of Execution: Circa 1930–1935
Classification: Original Fine Art Print / Master Relief Work
Signature: Hand-signed and titled by the artist in pencil in the lower margin
Medium: Original Woodcut / Wood Block Print
Paper Stock: Rare fine semi-translucent archival Japanese Kozo (Washi) paper
Image Dimensions: 19 x 14 cm / 7.5 x 5.5 in
 
An exceptional, museum-grade Friedlander Sonnet XCVII Woodcut Print 1930s original fine art graphic work. This exceedingly rare piece is hand-signed and titled in pencil by the celebrated master printmaker Isac Friedlander in the lower margin (annotated as Son. XCVII on the left and Friedlander on the right). The artwork belongs to his prestigious pre-war suite illustrating classic literary themes, specifically capturing the deep melancholia of William Shakespeare's Sonnet 97 ("How like a winter hath my absence been").
The composition features a solitary, heavily cloaked figure walking along a stark, zig-zagging illuminated pathway that cuts through a dark, ominous landscape. Flanked by ancient, twisted trees with gnarled roots and barren, skeletal branches under a heavy, stylized cloud formation, the image displays Friedlander's legendary mastery over the wood-block matrix. Every gouge and line vibrates with stark relief and dramatic chiaroscuro contrast. This specific impression is printed on extraordinarily fine, semi-translucent Japanese Kozo (washi) paper, prized by master printers for its organic fibers and unparalleled capacity to absorb dense black carbon inks. Retaining prominent uncut margins and crisp image definitions, this master print is a prime acquisition for elite institutional or private graphic collections.
 
About the Artist
Isac Friedlander (1890–1968) was a highly influential, world-renowned printmaker and painter whose graphic works defined the height of American Social Realist and avant-garde relief printing. Born in Latvia, Friedlander survived political imprisonment under the czarist regime before pursuing formal art studies at the prestigious Academy of Rome. Immigrating to New York in 1929, he developed an iconic graphic language characterized by intense psychological depth, heavy emotional textures, and intricate line work. His prints documenting the human condition are preserved in the permanent collections of elite global institutions, including The Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York), the Brooklyn Museum, the Smithsonian American Art Museum (Washington D.C.), and the National Library of France (Paris).