Lynd Ward’s 1929 book, God’s Man, came out at the wrong time and location.
At a time when full color reproductions on glossy pages in publications and books were brand-new and wildly popular, God’s Man was made exclusively of black and white woodcuts, a medium that preceded Durer in the 15th century.
In a years when the country was celebrating success and citizens were indulging brand-new high-ends and indiscrimination, God’s Man was an unwanted admonition concerning selling your soul for material gain and the enjoyments of the flesh.
Lynd Ward made his powerful publication, consisting of 139 woodcuts– no words– when he was 23. He had simply returned from training at the State Academy for Graphic Arts in Leipzig Germany. There, he created a recognition for German expressionist graphics and he brought that visual back to the US in this exceptional book.
Shortly after Ward’s book was published, the stock exchange crashed, tossing the world right into the Great Depression. This caused several to assess the unwanteds of the”roaring twenties”with a different perspective.Whatever the reason, Ward’s book beat the chances and arrived. It made his reputation as an illustrator and it motivated successive generations of musicians to experiment in comparable means. It was reprinted several times, although the recent book reproductions have none of the appeal of the original book, which was perfectly published on thick paper.Living in an era of electronic art and AI, it’s very easy in conclusion that this is not the correct time or place to attempt particular type of imaginative efforts. Lynd Ward had solid artistic sights and was awarded for taking chances.