A Cézanne Catalogue Woodblock print; ink on pi zhi bast paper

Curator: Chen Haiyan created this compelling woodblock print in 1986, titled "A Cézanne Catalogue," currently held at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It's striking how the stark black ink creates a world that feels both playful and slightly unsettling. The composition is so dynamic. Curator: Absolutely. The text, seemingly a personal reflection alongside the image of a figure being attacked by animals near a cart, adds layers of emotional depth. The dog biting perhaps representing a painful artistic journey? Editor: The rough, almost primitive quality of the carving, especially in the cart's wheels, emphasizes the raw emotion. It's a beautiful study of form and feeling. Curator: Yes, the visual symbols interact with the text to build a cultural narrative where art, life, and struggle converge. Editor: It really makes you appreciate how much can be communicated with so few visual elements. Curator: Indeed, it’s a window into the artist's state of mind at the time.