Schreeuwende kraai 1918

This is 'Schreeuwende kraai' ('Screaming Crow') by Jan Mankes, a small woodcut. I can imagine him, hunkered down, carefully carving away at the wood block. The black ink seems to vibrate. The whiteness of the paper is not just background but also light, becoming a part of the image itself. The crow’s beak is wide open, its body tense, a stark contrast to the neat rows of grass. I imagine he was interested in the textures, the subtle variations within a limited palette. Look how the lines create a sense of depth. I can relate to that desire for precision, for distilling an image to its most essential forms. His controlled cuts remind me of other printmakers of the time, who were also exploring the graphic power of black and white. It’s like they were all in conversation, pushing the boundaries of what a simple line could convey. Ultimately, it’s the emotional resonance of the image that stays with me. That crow is really going for it! It makes me want to caw along with him, even if I’m not quite sure what he’s yelling about.