Untitled (Woodcutter) 1936

This woodcut print, made by Arnold Wiltz in 1936, shows a figure set against a background of trees rendered in strong contrasting blacks and whites. Wiltz's commitment to the printmaking process is evident in his precise cutting technique, which is both decorative and expressive. What I notice is the surface texture of the wood, where we can see the cuts into the material, where the artist has deliberately emphasized the marks made by his tools. Take a look at the lines on the trees to the rear of the figure. See how the vertical lines create a sense of depth, while the white lines create a contrasting sense of surface. The marks convey the physicality of the wood and of the labour involved. Wiltz's work reminds me of German Expressionist printmakers like Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, who explored themes of labor and the natural world through a similar process-oriented approach. Each mark is a kind of meditation, inviting us to slow down and appreciate the unique beauty of this medium. This print offers a space for reflection, emphasizing art's capacity to embrace complexity and doubt rather than present us with simple, fixed meanings.