Vis 1887 - 1924

This woodcut, Vis, was made by Julie de Graag, and it's a tiny treasure at just 44 by 60 millimetres. The strong, simple lines really grab you, don't they? It's like she's carving directly into our consciousness. I love how the black ink sits on the paper, creating a sort of relief effect. The contrast between the fish and the background is super sharp. Take a look at the eye of the fish – it's so bold and graphic. It feels like a portal. The vertical lines create a watery feel. The artist is clearly playing with textures here – smooth fish versus rough water. De Graag's work reminds me a bit of the German Expressionist woodcuts, where the artists were using the medium to express raw emotion. But there's also something delicate about this piece, a quietness that's really captivating. It just goes to show, art doesn't need to shout to be heard. It can whisper too.