Mozes 1880 - 1932

Editor: This is "Mozes" by Henri van der Stok, made sometime between 1880 and 1932. It's a woodcut print housed here at the Rijksmuseum. It’s incredibly striking! What I find really powerful is the contrast between the black background and the almost glowing figure. What can you tell me about this work? Curator: Well, looking at this from a materialist perspective, let's consider the process. This is a woodcut, which demands a particular kind of labor – carving away at the block. The artist isn’t just depicting Moses; they are physically engaging with the material to produce the image. How do you think this laborious process impacts the image itself? Editor: I imagine it forces the artist to simplify shapes. It's interesting how the medium shapes the message. It's hard to make detailed or subtle lines. Curator: Exactly. The limitations of the medium – the wood and the tools used for carving – directly influence the visual style. Then think about the context: prints were often more accessible than paintings, meaning they reached a wider audience. Consider the consumption of this image. Who would have owned this? What messages might they have taken from it, considering the time period and the social and political climate? Editor: I hadn’t thought about who owned it, and what they would think! So the act of making and the availability of prints changed its impact? Curator: Precisely. The material conditions of production and distribution are central to understanding its cultural significance. It democratized images to an extent that impacted social consciousness. Editor: This has completely changed how I view the print. I was focusing on the expressionistic style, but understanding the process and accessibility adds so much more! Curator: Indeed, it highlights how art isn’t just about individual expression but is fundamentally tied to material realities.