Composition with six human figures 1906 - 1945

Reijer Stolk made this print – called ‘Composition with six human figures’ – sometime between the wars, using woodcut on paper. The high contrast is something I really like about this piece. It's like a snapshot of a performance, these figures caught between drama and dance. I think about the way the gouges in the block give a chunky texture to the image, how Stolk relishes the materiality of his medium. Look at how the grain of the wood seems to mimic the curves of the bodies, or how the negative spaces carve out a space for ambiguity. The blocky shapes and stark contrasts remind me a little bit of some German Expressionist prints from the same period – like Kirchner's woodcuts. Like those artists, Stolk seems to be interested in the raw power of the medium, using it to convey a sense of urgency and emotion. But ultimately it also feels very personal. It leaves you with questions rather than answers, you know?