Drie muzikanten 

Editor: Here we have “Drie muzikanten,” or “Three Musicians,” a woodcut print by Reijer Stolk. The stark black and white contrast creates a dramatic effect. What can you tell me about it? Curator: Look at the labor involved in this piece. A woodcut is not easily achieved; the artist must carve away at the block, considering the negative space with intense detail. Think about the artist's hands, meticulously removing material. This act of physical labor contrasts sharply with the subject: musicians, perhaps associated with a leisure class, with a less visible means of production. Editor: That’s an interesting point! It’s unexpected to think about labor in the context of art and music like this. Curator: Indeed! Also, consider the materials used. Wood, traditionally a humble craft material, elevated to create a print – a medium often used for mass production and dissemination of information. It challenges the traditional hierarchy separating crafts from high art. What statement do you think Stolk is making by combining these elements? Editor: Maybe he’s blurring the lines between social classes by presenting music, which can be seen as high culture, through the lens of working-class craftsmanship? Curator: Precisely! It invites a critique of artistic conventions, suggesting value in both labor and material, transforming both into something meaningful. Think also of German Expressionism's interest in capturing modern life. How might this woodcut reflect the industrialized world influencing artistry? Editor: The stark contrasts might reflect the sharp divisions in society and perhaps also allude to the noise of modern machinery juxtaposed against traditional music making? It feels less celebratory and more like a stark observation. Thanks, this really shifted my view. Curator: It’s the materiality and the means of production that truly speak to the power of this piece. Examining those opens so many doors to interpretation.