Kopf 1919

Karl Schmidt-Rottluff made this print, "Kopf," with wood, ink, and paper, but when he made it, nobody knows. I love the stark contrast of black and white; it's so immediate, so raw. You can really see the hand of the artist in the way the lines are carved. The textures created by the wood grain give it a kind of earthy feel, like it’s been pulled from the earth. Look at the hatched lines on the figure's hat; it's like a little woven basket sitting on top of his head. What kind of thoughts is he hatching under there? This print reminds me a little of some of the bolder work of Emil Nolde, another expressionist artist who wasn't afraid to get messy and emotional. These artists use their materials like they’re wrestling with their own feelings, and that’s what makes their art so powerful. It's about process over product.