Chaetodon visch 1892 - 1931

Henri Verstijnen made this striking woodcut print of a Chaetodon fish, sometime before 1940. You can really see the marks of the artist’s hand in the carved lines of the fish scales and the fronds of seaweed in the dark water. I can almost imagine Henri at work, carefully carving away at the block to reveal the image. The pressure, the resistance of the wood, and the precise movements required to render the scales must have taken time. Each cut must have been considered, reflecting a deep engagement with the material and the subject. The contrast between the black ink and the white paper creates a dramatic effect, emphasizing the graphic quality of the image. There’s a simplicity and directness to this printmaking that reminds me of other printmakers like Félix Vallotton or even some of the German Expressionists, where the medium itself becomes part of the message. The process creates a unique way of seeing, thinking, and experiencing the world through the eyes of the artist. I wonder what inspired Henri to make this artwork, which continues to inspire our own creativity?