Untitled (Exotic Figures) c. 1958

Helmi Dagmar Juvonen made this 'Untitled (Exotic Figures)' linocut, and the energy is just bursting out. It’s a black and white world, but it doesn't feel limited. The figures feel archetypal, like they’re drawn from dreams, a world of shamans, gods and spirits all jammed together. I'm really taken by how Juvonen uses the linocut to its full potential. There's a real consciousness of positive and negative space, the black pressing against the white with such intensity. Look closely, the figures on the print have bold outlines, but on the reverse, the white actually defines the forms. See how the contrast gives the image a kind of pulsating energy? It's so vibrant. Look at the way the lines and shapes repeat and vary, creating rhythm and pattern. It reminds me of Paul Klee in its playful investigation of form. It's a world of endless possibilities, where anything can happen, and that's what makes it so exciting.