Boerenkop 1947

Jo Bezaan’s "Boerenkop" is a striking print, and looking at it, you can almost feel the artist wrestling with the plate to get it just right. There's this raw, almost urgent quality to the lines, like Bezaan was chasing after something elusive. The face emerges from a dark background through these deliberate, forceful marks. Notice how the lines around the eyes and mouth are so weighted with ink, they speak of a life etched with hardship. The hat is almost an extension of the face, capping that world-weary gaze. I keep thinking about Käthe Kollwitz, another artist who used printmaking to explore the weight of human existence. Both artists share a commitment to portraying the struggles and resilience of everyday people. Art is not about answers, it’s about the questions that keep us looking.