Oogstende man en vrouw before 1928

Bernard Essers made this woodcut print, titled Oogstende man en vrouw, or Harvesting Man and Woman, sometime in the first half of the 20th century. This image is rendered through stark tonal contrasts and dense, rhythmic mark-making. It emphasizes process, revealing the hand of the artist through the intricate cuts and gouges made into the wood block. The materiality of this print is striking. The heavy black ink creates bold outlines and textures, giving the scene a tactile quality. Look at the way Essers contrasts the smooth, flat planes of the sky with the densely hatched patterns of the wheat field. Notice the way the negative space is carved out to depict the leaves and fruit of the tree, each tiny mark contributing to the overall composition. It's as if each cut into the wood is a gesture, a moment of decision and action frozen in time. Like the work of Frans Masereel, Essers uses simple forms to evoke emotion and convey a powerful message about the dignity of labor. Ultimately, this work reminds us that art is a conversation, an ongoing dialogue between artists across time, inviting us to participate and find our own meanings in the process.