Markt II 1926

Jo Bezaan's "Markt II" is a linocut print, a medium that lends itself to bold contrasts and graphic simplicity. The process here is direct, almost brutal, with thick black lines carving out a bustling market scene. It's all about the push and pull between what's there and what's been taken away. Look at the faces, how they emerge from the darkness. Each line seems to have a purpose, defining a form or suggesting a shadow. There's a real sense of energy, a feeling that you're right there in the crowd, jostling for space. I'm drawn to the way Bezaan uses the black ink, not just as a color but as a way to create depth and atmosphere. This reminds me of the German Expressionists, like Kirchner, who were also exploring the power of woodcuts and linocuts to convey raw emotion. Like them, Bezaan is unafraid to embrace the imperfections of the medium, to let the process show. And in those imperfections, we find a kind of truth.