Farbiger Holzschnitt Zwei Schwäne 1902

Otto Eckmann made this color woodcut print, Zwei Schwäne, sometime in the late 19th or early 20th century. The mark-making here is fascinating, isn't it? It's all about contrast - the stark white of the swans against that brooding, almost menacing dark water. Now, look closely at that water. It's not just a flat expanse; it's alive. Eckmann carves these little wave shapes that remind me of stylized flames, adding depth and movement. I love how the texture of the woodcut gives the whole piece a tactile quality, like you could almost feel the grain of the wood. And the way the light catches those swan feathers, with just a few strokes of gray - it's so economical but so effective! This print reminds me a bit of some of the Japanese woodblock prints of Hokusai – that same sense of simplified form and dramatic composition. It’s a reminder that art is an ongoing conversation, always building on what came before.