Het nieuwe liedje 1880 - 1932

Henri van der Stok created this print called "Het nieuwe liedje" – "The New Song" – sometime in the early 20th century. It’s all about stark contrasts, using black ink to carve out a scene that feels both classical and a bit wild. Look closely at how van der Stok uses line. It’s not just about outlining shapes; it’s about creating texture, depth, a whole mood. The way he renders the foliage, it's dense with detail, almost vibrating with energy. Then you've got these figures, simplified, almost like they’re emerging from the dark. I keep coming back to the figure playing the flute. The lines are so precise, but the pose is relaxed, like the music is just flowing out of him. This piece reminds me a bit of woodcuts by someone like Gauguin, where the rough, raw quality of the material becomes part of the story. Van der Stok embraces that roughness, making the print feel immediate and alive. It's a reminder that art doesn't always need to be polished to be powerful.