Straßenszene, nach dem Regen 1914

This is Straßenszene, nach dem Regen, by Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, made with woodcut, and look at that pure black and white! It's like Kirchner wasn't messing around; he just went for it. He hacked away at the block, giving us these sharp, angular forms. Notice the faces of the figures, almost mask-like, with these intense, staring eyes. You can practically feel the grit and the energy. I love the way he uses the black and white to create such a strong contrast. It's almost violent, but also kinda elegant. There’s something about the density of the blacks that makes the whole scene feel claustrophobic, a real snapshot of urban anxiety. The way he's playing with the graphic quality reminds me a bit of Munch, but with a more aggressive, in-your-face kind of vibe. It’s a conversation, right?