Greeting (Begrüssung) 1912

Curator: Gosh, this woodcut...or is it a linocut?... gives me such a primal feeling. Editor: It's a linocut, actually. This is "Greeting" from 1912 by August Macke, a striking piece housed here at The Met. Macke was quite involved with the German Expressionist movement. You feel something primal? Curator: Absolutely. The stark contrast, that aggressive carving—it feels almost violent, yet the scene itself is… pastoral? Two nudes intertwined beneath a stylized tree, a rider joyously waving. The sharp, deliberate cutting lends a rough beauty to the figures. What visual symbols or underlying patterns do you perceive in this piece? Editor: The female nudes—clustered intimately, rendered without specific detail —speak to a certain universality, a kind of return to nature before the Fall. The male figure on horseback can be interpreted in several ways. His elevated position traditionally symbolizes triumph or control but it’s juxtaposed with their nudity that evokes themes of vulnerability and freedom. The entire scene looks like it may represent freedom. Curator: That juxtaposition really strikes me. There’s a tension, right? Are they greeting the rider? Or is the whole thing happening independently? I’m lost, really. This visual ambiguity does remind me of the Symbolists though, just from the black-and-white aesthetic and emotional punch to it! Editor: Yes, there’s something quite potent in that unknowability, a tension which is characteristic of expressionism. This use of symbolism reminds us that the artwork operates on multiple levels, beyond the immediate visual scene. The linocut, by design, emphasizes these strong contrasts of shadow and light. Curator: Looking again, those two dark areas—negative space maybe? Are they looming threatening? Or could they represent shelter and darkness? Are they dangerous caves or are the the depths of a dreamscape. I feel as though I’m being lured into its secrets. Editor: These "secret" recesses you allude to may well represent those mysteries and unknown aspects that permeate the expressionist artistic agenda. Macke evokes a world that transcends everyday concerns and encourages inward consideration of human nature. Curator: What a haunting, beautiful invitation into such intense contrast! The emotional landscape mirrors so many human experiences. Editor: Indeed. It remains an amazing portrayal, capturing something fundamental in the human condition.