Interieur met naakte vrouw en raam 1918

Gustave De Smet made this woodcut, “Interieur met naakte vrouw en raam,” in 1918, and it’s all about embracing the stark contrast of black and white, diving deep into a world of shape and form. You can almost feel the artist's hand at work, chiseling away at the wood to reveal these bold, graphic shapes. The texture is key here, the way the ink sits on the paper, slightly uneven, giving it a real, tangible quality. Look at the way the window is rendered, those sharp, angular lines suggesting buildings, creating a sense of space that's both interior and exterior. And that figure, emerging from the darkness, asserting her presence with a raw, unpolished energy. It makes me think of Kirchner, or even some of the German Expressionists, that same interest in raw emotion and simplified form. But De Smet brings his own flavor, a kind of intimacy that draws you in, inviting you to find your own story within the image.