Seated Woman

Art Historical Context

**Seated Woman** by Max Weber, created between 1919 and 1920, captures the modernist spirit of the early 20th century in compact woodcut printed in black ink on laid paper. Russian-born American artist Max Weber (1881–1) was a key figure in New York's avant-garde scene, influenced by Cubism, Synchromism, and Jewish folk art traditions. Having exhibited with pioneers like Alfred Stiegl, Weber transitioned from vibrant paintings to the stark contrasts of printmaking after World War I, reflecting a period of artistic experimentation amid social upheaval. This intimate work features a 5.1 x 4.4 cm image on a larger 25.4 x 16.5 cm sheet, showcasing the woodcut's relief technique: intricate carving into wood blocks produces bold, textured lines and dramatic shadows inherent to the medium. Laid paper, with its visible chain lines, enhances the tactile, handcrafted quality prized in fine prints. Weber's angular forms suggest Cubist fragmentation, distilling the female figure into essential planes and rhythms. A generous gift from Jack and Margrit Vanderryn to the National Gallery of Art (CG-W department), *Seated Woman* exemplifies Weber's innovative prints, bridging European modernism with American innovation. Visitors will appreciate its quiet power—proof that small-scale works can evoke profound introspection.

About the Artist

Max Weber · 1881–1961

Max Weber (1881–1961), born in Białystok in the Russian Empire (now Poland) to Orthodox Jewish parents, immigrated to Brooklyn, New York, at age ten with his family, joining his tailor father.) There, he pursued art studies at the Pratt Institute under Arthur Wesley Dow, an innovative teacher who emphasized expression and form over traditional narrative, drawing from Japanese art and Paul Gauguin....