Fisherman 1921

Max Pechstein created this woodcut, Fisherman, using black ink on paper. The approach to mark-making is bold, with decisive lines carving out the fisherman's features. It's raw and immediate, like Pechstein was wrestling with the wood itself. I see the physicality of the medium in every groove and gouge. Look at the fisherman's face, especially the lines that form his mustache and the sharp angles of his nose. Each line feels intentional, like a direct transfer of energy from Pechstein's hand to the block. And the way the black ink sits on the paper, it’s not trying to hide anything, it's all about the texture, the grain, the imperfections. This reminds me a bit of some of the early German Expressionists, like Kirchner, who were also exploring the expressive potential of woodcuts. There's a similar sense of urgency and directness, a willingness to embrace the roughness of the medium. It's like they're saying, "Here it is, no frills, just the raw emotion." And that's what makes it so powerful, don't you think?