Na het ongeval 1931

Louis Cardinaals created this woodcut, "Na het ongeval," sometime during his career. The first thing that strikes you is the bustling crowd, all rendered in stark black and white. Imagine Cardinaals, chisel in hand, carving away at the block, making these thick, emphatic marks. You can feel the energy of the scene, the tension of the aftermath of whatever accident has just occurred. The sky is full of nervous energy. Look at the way he’s suggested faces with just a few lines. What were people thinking? The use of simple lines to make complex forms reminds me of the German Expressionists, like Kirchner or Heckel, who weren't afraid to use rough, bold strokes to convey feeling. There's a rawness here. It’s like he's saying, "Hey, let's not get too comfortable. Let’s acknowledge the grit and intensity of real life." And, well, isn't that what art's all about, anyway?