Orpheus speelt op zijn harp voor de dieren 1917 - 1920

Henri van der Stok carved this print of Orpheus playing his harp, and bringing peace to the animals. Look at the shapes of the leaves, they have their own rhythm. The animals too, from the monkeys peering down from above, to the lion in the foreground, all captured with such clarity. I can imagine Henri carefully cutting into the block to describe each leaf and each animal. It’s like the whole scene is vibrating, responding to the music of Orpheus. The limited palette heightens the impact of the lines. It reminds me of the German Expressionists. What would it be like to just focus on the essential contrast, the basic yes/no of black and white? There's a boldness there, a commitment. Maybe we can all learn something from Orpheus and Henri, about the power of art to bring disparate elements into harmony.