Description:
Part of portfolio of 26 lithographs and accompanying book by Lawrance Thompson.
Text from accompanying book by Lawrance Thompson, 4: Strike Through the Mask:

"All visible objects, man,
are but as pasteboard masks.
But in each event -
in the living act,
the undoubted deed -
there, some unknown but still reasoning thing
puts forth the mouldings of its features
from behind the unreasoning mask.
If man will strike,
strike through the mask!
How can the prisoner reach outside
except by thrusting through the wall?
To me, the white whale is that wall,
shoved near to me.
Sometimes I think there's naught beyond.
But 'tis enough. He tasks me; he heaps me;
I see in him outrageous strength,
with an inscrutable malice
sinewing it.
That inscrutable thing is chiefly what I hate;
and be the white whale agent,
or be the white whale principal,
I will wreak that hate upon him.
Talk not to me of blasphemy, man..."

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