Vrouw met vislijn 1898

William Nicholson created this woodcut, "Vrouw met vislijn," sometime during his career. Nicholson, born in 1872, was part of a generation grappling with rapid industrialization and shifting social roles, particularly for women. In this print, we see a woman confidently holding a fishing line, a scene that departs from the conventional domestic roles often assigned to women in art. Nicholson’s choice to depict a woman in a more active, outdoor pursuit subtly challenges societal expectations, inviting viewers to reconsider the capabilities and interests of women beyond traditional boundaries. Her gaze is direct, almost confrontational. Nicholson’s aesthetic choices here –the stark contrast, the simplified forms – enhance the print’s graphic impact, aligning it with the bold styles of early modernism.