Twee paarden 1924

Curator: Immediately I'm struck by the drama of this woodcut! The stark black and white contrast and dynamic composition feel almost theatrical. Editor: That’s right. What we have here is a print from 1924, titled "Twee paarden," or "Two Horses" in English, by the Dutch artist Mommie Schwarz. Curator: Knowing the historical context of the Weimar Republic certainly informs how I interpret its mood and use of bold forms to elicit emotional response. There is this raw energy, an urgency. Editor: I see that energy too. And I'd suggest it is crucial to remember that printmaking in general, especially in the early 20th century, served as a democratizing force in art. Works like these were more accessible to a wider public and engaged with issues facing society head-on. How might the representation of animals speak to anxieties concerning humanity, nature, and the urban landscape? Curator: The Expressionist style amplifies that tension. Consider how the stylized landscape contributes; there’s something unsettling in the compressed background, as if these creatures exist within a dreamscape. Their forms suggest something primal in terms of intersectionality that asks one to reflect upon not only what animals can provide, but also questions their significance when representing class within urban spaces. Editor: Yes! Animals often occupy complex positions in the symbolic order. Were these horses presented at a specific fair, show, or equestrian sporting event in the 1920s? If we dig a bit deeper, the print could offer insights into how particular social values and activities shape how these animals are perceived or, conversely, a particular type of societal value that they might hold that the upper crust is seeking to obtain. Curator: A thought-provoking reading, which leads one to reflect on art and its public role! Editor: Indeed, and by taking this all in together, this work makes the viewer ponder what those horses symbolize within our present contexts.