Monniksgieren 1915

Bernard Willem Wierink made this print of vultures, we don't know exactly when, but it's a powerful image. Look at how Wierink coaxes so much depth and texture out of the printmaking process. You can almost feel the rough feathers and the sharp edges of the birds' beaks. I’m drawn to the way the artist uses light and shadow to create a sense of drama. The dark, almost oppressive atmosphere makes the vultures seem even more menacing. Notice how the textures vary across the image, from the smooth, almost polished look of the background to the rough, etched lines that define the vultures' forms. I wonder what kind of tools he used to create such variety. It reminds me a little of Käthe Kollwitz, who also knew how to wring emotion out of black and white. Art is about conversation and the process of seeing, about opening up new ways of experiencing the world.