Djokja c. 1930

This is Johannes ten Klooster’s ‘Djokja’, a woodcut print in black ink on paper. There's a real graphic sensibility here. The mountains are like these jagged teeth at the top, the figures are reduced to these simple, flat shapes, and the patterns of the clothing have such a decorative feel. I imagine the artist carving away at the woodblock, carefully considering each line and shape, almost like a dance in itself. There's something about the limited palette that draws me in, the stark contrast of black and white creates this mood of high drama. I can’t help but think of other artists working in similar ways - the German Expressionists for example – playing with simplification and intense emotion. These artists are all in conversation with one another, riffing off similar themes and ideas, pushing the boundaries.