Winterlandschap met molen 1940

A. Marchal made this woodcut, using stark contrast to depict a 'Winter Landscape with Mill.' Look closely at the carved lines suggesting snow-covered fields and a looming, old-fashioned windmill. I imagine Marchal carefully considering each cut, embracing the risk that comes with carving away at the block. Every mark is decisive, each slice of the knife reveals the image, building a world of deep shadows and textured surfaces. And that sky! See how it's all built up with lines? I think the artist probably wanted to capture the feeling of a heavy winter day. It's so bleak. I see echoes of other printmakers who used landscape to explore feelings. It reminds me of some of the German Expressionists, who were also trying to express inner turmoil. Artists are always in dialogue, sharing a visual language across generations. It’s a conversation, a constant back-and-forth of ideas and feelings.