Vader Smit, Geelvinkbaai, Nederlands-Nieuw-Guinea 1920

This linocut of Vader Smit, Geelvinkbaai, Nederlands-Nieuw-Guinea was made by Johannes Frederik Engelbert ten Klooster, though the date is unknown. There is a graphic sensibility in the way Klooster approaches the scene; the mountains, foliage and the waves are reduced to their essential forms. The bold contrast between the black ink and the white of the paper brings a dramatic, almost theatrical quality to the scene. Klooster makes use of the physical properties of the medium, with each mark possessing a tactile quality. Look at the way the waves in the foreground curl and break. Notice the slight variations in the line weight; it’s a masterclass in economical mark making. It reminds me of the woodcuts of German Expressionist Karl Schmidt-Rottluff, though perhaps with a touch more serenity. What I appreciate most is its embrace of ambiguity. It offers a view, but allows us space to bring our own interpretations, our own experiences to the viewing. It's a scene, yes, but it’s also a space for dreaming, for reflection.