Landskab med bakker 1931

This is Henry Nielsen's "Landskab med bakker," a small print bursting with a world of texture. It's amazing how such a simple palette can create so much depth. The physicality of the medium is so present here. You can almost feel the resistance of the wood against the artist’s tools. Look at how the light catches the tops of the hills. See those horizontal marks? They give the whole scene a kind of vibration, like it's shimmering in the heat. Then you've got these dense, dark areas, almost like a velvety shadow, creating this intense contrast. It reminds me a little of some of the German Expressionist woodcuts, that same raw energy and emotional intensity. Nielsen died so young, it's interesting to wonder in which direction his art may have progressed, and with whom he may have been in conversation. Ultimately, this piece is a reminder that art is never truly finished, but a work in progress!