Bedankkaart van Lucienne Marchal 1936

Lucienne Marchal made this small but powerful thank you card in 1936, probably using linocut or woodcut techniques. The graphic quality, the way the colours are laid down – it's all about process. It's a print, so it's about the mark, and how it repeats, yet each one will be slightly different. What strikes me is the physical aspect of the print. Look at the bold black that surrounds the central image, framing the pale yellow tower, a vivid green tree, and a glowing lamp. You can almost feel the pressure of the block on the paper, the way the ink has been pushed into the fibres. This is no slick, digital reproduction, it's a tactile, handmade object. I especially love how the black arch at the top frames the image and mirrors the arch of the tower doorway. Like a Persian miniature, the perspective is skewed, naive even, but this only adds to its charm. It reminds me of the work of someone like Emil Nolde, another artist who wasn’t afraid to embrace the raw, expressive power of colour and form. Art is a conversation, an ongoing exchange of ideas and feelings. And this little card speaks volumes.