Corbignano [Firenze] 1920 - 1933

Elsa Ström-Ciacelli made this woodcut, called Corbignano [Firenze], sometime in the early 20th century. The stark contrast of black and white makes the landscape look flattened, almost like a stage set. You can see the artist's hand so clearly, like in the top left corner, the way she carved out the hills – it's so direct and honest. It reminds me that artmaking is a process, not just about the final result. The texture in the black parts of the image is amazing. It’s rough, and kind of messy, which gives the whole piece a lot of energy. I wonder what tools she used. There's this one building, right in the middle, that really catches my eye. It's like a little anchor in the chaos of the landscape. And the way the light hits it makes it feel solid, real. It reminds me a bit of Emil Nolde's woodcuts, with that same raw, emotional punch. But Ström-Ciacelli has her own thing going on, too. Her work is a reminder that art is always evolving, always in conversation.