Zittende naakte vrouw 1884 - 1952

Reinier Willem Petrus de Vries made this woodcut of a seated nude woman, and the lack of a date makes me think it's all about process. The image emerges from the dance between what's carved away and what's left, the positive and negative space doing a tango. The paper itself has a creamy quality, almost like skin, and this makes the dark ink feel very present. Look closely, and you can almost feel the cut of the knife that defines her form. There’s an economy to it, a simple power in the lines. The way her body curves, tucked in on itself, suggests a quiet introspection. Her gaze is internal, like she's lost in thought. This piece reminds me of Paula Modersohn-Becker, another artist who knew how to strip things down to their essence. It's not about perfection, but about the raw honesty of being.