I made this in high school, when I was discovering that linoleum printing is one of my favorite forms of art. I like this piece because the girl doesn’t look like she’s struggling too much — she’s shouldering a gigantic animal and doesn’t seem too distressed. I had several feminist issues in mind while making this (the invisible burdens that women carry… also, ox are referred to as “beasts of burden”), and also wanted to work with the natural qualities of the linoleum. Interestingly, my art teacher did not like this piece at all even though it is one of my all time favorites. I think she truthfully just did not like me. When I made this print I imagined that the ox was imaginary (only visible to the girl).
Grace Wheeler is a first year student at the School of Veterinary Medicine. Grace can be reached by email at [email protected].
