Na het ongeval 1931

This woodcut, 'After the Accident,' was made by Louis Cardinaals in 1931. What strikes me first is the all-overness of it, the way the forms are packed so densely across the surface. It gives a sense of urgency, like everyone is trying to get a look. Cardinaals' process is so clear here; you can see the marks of the gouge cutting through the block, the places where he's dug deep and where he's just skimmed the surface. Look at the plumes of smoke billowing above the buildings. Those twisting, graphic lines remind me a little of the woodcuts of Edvard Munch, that same dark energy. They feel chaotic, dangerous, but also sort of thrilling. It’s not about clean lines or perfect representation. It's about texture and drama and capturing a moment. It's that roughness that gives the piece its power. Thinking about other artists who capture that particular sense of drama and chaos, I'm reminded of Käthe Kollwitz. Art is always in conversation, right?