Hond, staand op een stoel 1884 - 1952

Reinier Willem Petrus de Vries made this woodcut, Hond, staand op een stoel, of Dog Standing on a Chair, sometime in the 20th century. It's a relief print, so what you're seeing is the inverse of what the artist carved. I love the starkness of this image. The blocky, carved lines create a real sense of texture. The background is a flat plane of earthy brown, while the dog and chair are carved out in a solid black that feels almost velvety. Take a look at the tail, for example. It curls up like a question mark. It is kind of funny, because you can see how it was created with just one gouge. The dog itself is so alert, perched on the chair like a watchful sentinel. This piece reminds me of the work of Emil Nolde, who also explored the graphic potential of woodcuts with a similar directness and emotional intensity. In the end, art’s about exploring—a continual conversation through time. So don’t worry about figuring it all out, just embrace the mystery.