Portret van Larense boerenvrouw genaamd Lysemeut 1916

Julie de Graag made this woodcut portrait of Lysemeut, a farmer's wife from Laren, in 1916. The whole image feels like a process, doesn't it? Like the artist wasn't trying to hide the work involved, but to show it off. Look at the dense lines that create Lysemeut's face and clothing. See how each mark seems deliberate, building up texture and form? The lines are physical, like a kind of sculpture. Each line, each cut, defines her. The way de Graag uses black and white is also striking, it’s honest. It reminds me a bit of Käthe Kollwitz, another artist who wasn't afraid to show the grit and reality of everyday life. You get the feeling the artist cares about the subject. She sees something special in this woman, this Lysemeut. It's like she's saying, "Here is a real person, with lines and wrinkles and a story to tell." I love that. It's a beautiful, unpretentious tribute.