Zonnebloem 1906 - 1946

This is Reijer Stolk's ‘Zonnebloem’, a black on beige woodcut print. You can almost feel the gouges he’s made in the block, creating this really graphic image. The way he’s broken down the tones into simple marks reminds me of Emil Nolde, he was a woodcut master. Look closely at the sunflower head, it's like a field of tiny squares, each one individually placed. This really brings out the texture and form, but also the labour, like a meditation. The leaves in the foreground are built up of thick and thin parallel lines, which makes them feel so bold and present. The whole thing feels raw and powerful; the way it's carved gives a real sense of energy and directness. You can just imagine Stolk attacking the block with his tools, making something really striking and immediate. It's beautiful.