Sembah 1922

This black and white print, called "Sembah," was made by Johannes Frederik Engelbert ten Klooster. I imagine him carefully carving away at the block, letting the image slowly emerge. The figure is kneeling, and the title, "Sembah," suggests a respectful greeting or gesture of worship. But it's not just about what's depicted, it’s also about how it’s depicted. You know, the way those fluid lines create a sense of movement, almost like the figure is swaying gently. The composition is so dynamic, so full of life, it’s hard to believe it was done in a single color. And the floral elements add a touch of delicacy, softening the starkness of the black and white. It reminds me a little bit of some of the Art Nouveau stuff that was happening around the same time. Like, think of the way Aubrey Beardsley used line and form to create these really powerful images. Artists are constantly borrowing from each other, riffing on old ideas and making them new again. It’s like a big conversation that stretches across time.