Markt II 1926

Jo Bezaan made this woodcut print of a market scene in 1926. The stark contrast between the black ink and the white paper creates a dramatic and somewhat unsettling atmosphere. I can imagine Bezaan carefully carving the design into the wood block, removing slivers to create the negative space around the figures. Each cut is deliberate, defining the shapes of the people, their baskets, and the architecture behind them. There's a real sense of the artist's hand in the varying depths and textures of the lines. The faces are particularly striking, with deep shadows and sharply defined features. There is a strong connection with German Expressionism. I wonder if Bezaan was inspired by artists like Kirchner or Heckel, who also used woodcuts to capture the intensity of modern life? Artists are always looking, borrowing, and building upon each other's work. It’s the nature of art-making, an ongoing conversation across time.