Masks 1913

This is Fritz Baumann's 'Masks', a woodcut print made in the early twentieth century. Look at how the ink has been applied to the block surface, then pressed onto the paper, leaving a slightly raised texture that catches the light. I can imagine Baumann working on this, carving into the wood with his tools, each cut a deliberate act, scraping away at the surface to reveal these striking forms. The yellow ochre of the faces, combined with the turquoise and purple, gives a sense of unease. See how the masks overlap and intersect? The eyes are wide, and mouths agape, suggesting a kind of collective scream. It reminds me of the German Expressionists, those guys were into raw emotion! I wonder if Baumann knew their work? Maybe they had a beer together at some point. Anyway, all these different artists are in conversation, inspiring and riffing off each other. Making things, expressing themselves, and showing us new ways to feel.