Graphic Witness: Four Wordless Graphic Novels, edited by George A. Walker

Great works deserve a great introduction

Woodcut novels are a rare and beautiful art form that have been underappreciated for far too long. Thankfully in recent years some of these classic “graphic novels” have been rescued from obscurity and given the proper respect they deserve. This collection features four great works created from 1918 to 1951.

Frans Masereel is the European pioneer of the genre. His art exhibits the jagged simplicity of German Expressionism, and his storytelling is correspondingly disjointed and ambiguous. Lynd Ward is the American master, embodying the true apex of the art form. (The Library of America recently published an edition of his complete works.) His prints are beautifully detailed with intricate line work, and his narrative likewise displays complexity and depth. Canadian artist Laurence Hyde provides the most beautiful art in the book, combining the stark gravity of Masereel with the nuance of line and tone found in Ward’s work. Italian-American artist Giacomo Patri supplies the weakest piece in the collection. His art, in both its conception and execution, is really not in the same league as the other three, but his story provides a valuable glimpse into life during the Great Depression. If there’s a common thread among the four works, it is a stand against social injustice. No less than three of the works feature workers rising up against their oppressors, with mixed results.

The only reason I’m not giving this book five stars is because I was disappointed by the thirty-odd pages of text that accompany the art. The preface and introduction by Walker, and the afterword by Seth provide only a couple paragraphs of biographical information on each artist, with some very general comments on how these novels expressed the political realities of their time and how woodcut novels were the precursors to today’s graphic novels. To this I say, “Duh.” I would have preferred more detailed biographies and more on the history of woodcut novels in general.

Left: Lynd Ward, from Wild Pilgrimage; Top right: Frans Masereel, from The Passion of a Man; Bottom right: Laurence Hyde, from Southern Cross

Stories in this collection:

The Passion of a Man by Frans Masereel

Wild Pilgrimage by Lynd Ward

White Collar by Giacomo Patri

Southern Cross by Laurence Hyde

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