Letter "V" Possibly 1953

This print, Letter "V", was created by Hans Marinus van Dokkum, and it is a woodcut. The image, a stylized bird-like creature, is created from bold black lines against the white background. Woodcut is an old printing technique, where an image is carved into a block of wood. The areas that are cut away don't receive ink, while the raised areas do, creating a relief effect when printed. This process requires considerable skill, as the artist must carve carefully to achieve the desired level of detail, and think in reverse. The stark contrast and the texture of the wood grain are inherent qualities of the medium, giving this print its distinctive appearance. Although this print is part of a series of works, the labor is evident in the texture and detail of the final print. This suggests it was created not as part of an assembly line but through an artistic process that blends craft and fine art.