Zittende man 1918 - 1919

Maurits de Groot created this print, 'Zittende man,' at an unknown date, using woodcut techniques. The stark contrast of black ink against the paper immediately grabs your attention. De Groot plays with positive and negative space to define form. Notice how the absence of ink shapes the buildings and landscape behind the figure, creating an almost dreamlike environment. The man himself is rendered with heavy, dark lines that emphasize his brow and the set of his jaw, conveying a sense of pensiveness or melancholy. The composition is intriguing. The man is foregrounded, yet his gaze doesn't meet ours. It evokes existential themes prevalent in early 20th-century art. The rough texture of the woodcut adds to the emotional weight, suggesting a world worn down. The scene is not just visually represented, but also felt. This invites us to question fixed ideas about representation and identity.