Untitled (Woodcutter) 1936

Arnold Wiltz made this black and white woodcut print in 1936. It shows a man cutting a tree in a forest. Just imagine Arnold Wiltz carving into that woodblock, the resistance of the material under his tools. Each cut a deliberate mark, defining light and shadow. Look at the way the lines create texture, giving the trees a sense of depth, making them prickly and dense. The woodcutter is rendered with strong, simple lines, his body bent with effort. What was Arnold Wiltz thinking as he made this piece? Was he thinking about hard work? The relationship between humans and nature? The rhythm of the axe, the feel of the wood, it all speaks to a connection with the land, a sense of place. You can almost hear the sound of the axe splitting the wood. It reminds me of the prints of the German Expressionists, a feeling of raw emotion and the beauty of simple forms. It is so direct, simple, and moving. There’s a conversation happening, across time, between artists, and between us. I love that.