Flower Image 1956

This is Jim Forsberg's woodcut print, "Flower Image," and right away, I’m drawn to how he’s pieced together this botanical form from simple shapes. It's like a vocabulary lesson in basic forms. The deep black ink contrasts with the pale paper, creating a striking graphic effect. Look at the way the texture of the woodblock comes through – it gives the print a real tactile presence. There are these little imperfections and variations that make it feel so handmade. See the way he's divided up some of the leaf shapes? It creates this subtle tension between representation and abstraction. Forsberg's print reminds me a bit of Matisse’s cut-outs, this sense of playful exploration and distillation of form. Ultimately, “Flower Image” invites us to slow down and appreciate the beauty in simplicity and the power of the black and white.