Boerderij 1918

Gustave De Smet made this woodcut, Boerderij, in 1918, and what strikes me is its bold use of black and white, carving out shapes with a real sense of dynamism. You get the feeling he was really going for it! The texture is key here, isn’t it? Look at how the gouges and cuts create a kind of visual rhythm across the surface. See the way the figure is formed of very bold lines, in contrast to the zig-zag of the fields below. It's like the whole scene is vibrating with energy. It’s not just about representing a landscape; it’s about capturing a feeling, an experience. It reminds me of Paula Modersohn-Becker, another artist who wasn’t afraid to experiment with woodcuts. Both really understood how to push the boundaries of the medium. But ultimately, this piece feels unique, like a snapshot of De Smet's own artistic journey. Art's just a conversation, right?