Hexe 1910

Christian Rohlfs made this woodcut, Hexe, and the approach to the mark making is so decisive. Like, each line has a clear purpose, a kind of carving out of the form. It’s like he's digging into the material to reveal something hidden, right? The texture here is key; the rough, almost violent cuts create a sense of unease. It’s not smooth or comforting; it’s raw. And look at the lines that make up the background – they aren’t just filling space, they’re alive. See how they seem to vibrate and create this claustrophobic space around the figure? Like she’s trapped or maybe she is the trap? The way the block prints only some areas in full and others not at all reminds me of Edvard Munch's approach to printmaking. Ultimately, it’s this ambiguity that makes the work so compelling. It’s not telling us what to think, but inviting us into a space of uncertainty and questioning.