Dancer in the Mirror 1923

Max Pechstein made this woodcut, Dancer in the Mirror, at some point in his career, but we don't know exactly when. He has used blocks of colour, bold and graphic, to create this scene of performers and audience members. I love the way the physical process is so clear to see. You can trace the way Pechstein has carved into the wood to leave these flat planes of colour, especially in the audience. These colours are striking: yellow, blue, red, black and white all juxtaposed. The thick, black lines contour the shapes, making them pop against the light blue background. There's no attempt to hide the method, no illusionism, just the sheer physicality of the thing. This print reminds me of the work of Erich Heckel, who was also part of the German Expressionist group Die Brücke, because of his own raw and intense approach to woodcut printmaking. In the end, it’s always about how different artists can have a conversation with each other through their work, influencing and responding across time.