Daphnis en Chloë rennen op elkaar af 1937

Aristide Maillol made this small woodcut print of Daphnis and Chloë; two lovers running towards each other. I imagine Maillol carving away at the block of wood, the image emerging slowly from the surface, line by line. It’s physical work. You have to be so careful and so present. I can almost feel the give of the wood under the blade. I’m struck by the way he’s captured movement with just a few simple lines. The bodies are intertwined, embracing; a dance between dark and light. In a sense, isn't every mark made by an artist a kind of embrace – a physical engagement with the world? I think of other printmakers like Gauguin and Munch who also embraced the possibilities of the medium. I can see how they were all in conversation, exploring similar themes of love, nature, and the human condition. Ultimately, making art is about taking risks, making mistakes, and learning from them. Each mark contributes to the emotional and intellectual resonance of the work, inviting us to see and feel in new ways.