Zwei Badende im Bach c. 1922

Otto Mueller made this image, Zwei Badende im Bach, through the technique of woodcut. The image is printed in black and yellow on a fibrous, absorbent paper. Woodcut is an old technique, historically valued as a means of mass communication. Yet, as we see here, the graphic quality can also be leveraged for fine art. Look closely, and you’ll notice how the wood’s grain subtly textures the color fields. This effect results from the artist’s direct engagement with the material, cutting into the block to leave a raised surface behind. When printed, these raised areas transfer the ink to the paper, creating a direct impression of Mueller’s work. Mueller was associated with the German Expressionist group Die Brücke, which embraced printmaking for its raw energy. By valuing the directness of the woodcut process, Mueller and his peers challenged the traditional hierarchy between fine art and craft. They sought an unmediated, visceral connection to both material and image, with social and cultural ramifications that are still being felt today.