Naaiende vrouw 1889 - 1943

Salomon Garf probably made this black ink woodcut, Naaiende vrouw, on paper sometime in the early 20th century, and you can really see the carving process he used. The stark contrast creates such a strong, graphic image. It’s not trying to trick you with illusions; it lays bare its own making. Look at the way the light pours in from the window and creates these intense white verticals. It feels almost like a stage set. I love how Garf uses the black ink almost like a kind of emotional weather. It’s thick and pooling in the background, giving the whole scene a kind of claustrophobic feel, but then look at the delicate white lines that define the fabric in the woman’s hands. It feels like he's inviting us into this intimate moment, the simple act of mending, elevated to something profound. It reminds me a little of Paula Modersohn-Becker, in the way she captured the everyday lives of women with such intensity and feeling. Both artists show us that art isn't about grand gestures, but about finding the extraordinary in the ordinary.