‘Funeral Under the Umbrellas’, color woodcut, by Henri Riviere

‘Funeral Under the Umbrellas’ by a color woodcut by Henri Riviere. A vertical composition with a line of people curving from the right to the left into the fading horizon line. The form of people and umbrellas are formed using black ink, displaying a silhouette. A slightly diluted pink sunset sky sets the time for the event. Clouded by grey and blue clouds, black lines of rain come down from the right onto the line of people. The left composition of the image is left almost barren and empty. The ink used is splotchy and bleeds into itself, creating a wet image in the display and the scene.

This print by Riviere builds the scene of a group of people attending a funeral. The mood is gloomy and uncomfortable, with slanted harsh rain, and dark heavy silhouettes. Color is unsaturated to enhance the atmosphere of the funeral. Whether the people are leaving or going to the funeral is unclear and left up to interpretation.

-Aaliyah Garinga