Gargantua: Chapter XXXVI 1942

Bernard Reder made this black-and-white woodcut, called Gargantua: Chapter XXXVI, at some point in his career. Look at the way he's used the wood, cutting into it to create these stark contrasts, almost like he's carving out light and shadow. The texture is incredible; you can almost feel the grain of the wood. See how Reder uses these deep, dark blacks to create a sense of drama? And then, these little slivers of white, like light piercing through chaos. There’s a figure at the top, sort of floating, or maybe falling – I can’t quite tell. It reminds me of the way Goya used to depict figures in his etchings, all twisted and tormented. What I like about this piece is that it’s not trying to be perfect or polished; it embraces the roughness of the medium. It feels raw and immediate, like a snapshot of a dream or a nightmare. This piece is a reminder that art doesn't always have to be pretty; it can be messy, uncomfortable, and still incredibly powerful.