Neptunus 1880 - 1932

This is Henri van der Stok's "Neptunus," a woodcut print. It's all about bold moves. You can feel the artist carving into the block, making decisive cuts. There's no going back, which is exciting. The black ink against the creamy paper creates a stark contrast. This contrast gives the image a real graphic punch. The face is symmetrical and powerful, a god-like figure emerging from the depths. Look at the beard! It’s not just a beard; it's a trident, the symbol of Neptune himself. How cool is that? The artist uses the negative space to create shapes within shapes, making the whole thing vibrate with energy. I am reminded of Emil Nolde who also worked a lot with woodcuts. Like Nolde, Van der Stok embraces the imperfections, the little slips of the hand. It's like a conversation between the artist and the material, a dance between control and chance. It reminds us that art is a living, breathing process, not a fixed object.