Programma van de volksdans- en volkszangavond, 'A.J.C. - afdeling Amsterdam' before 1933

This woodcut print, made by Fré Cohen, probably in the 1920s, uses the blocky quality of the medium for its full potential! The simple orange and black palette really pops. I love to imagine Cohen carving into the wood, the push and pull of the blade, deciding where to cut away to leave only the marks that matter. The composition is really dynamic, capturing figures in motion, maybe a folk dance like the title suggests? Look how the artist carves away tiny details to create texture and depth. You can see the push and pull as Cohen makes decisions about the costumes, how they fall on the dancers, and how they move. It’s really moving to imagine Fré Cohen, who had to work in such secrecy and with such limited time. I imagine them feeling so happy with the result. It’s inspiring how artists continue this conversation through time, inspiring each other and creating something new!