Brug over een rivier 1888 - 1934

This is ‘Bridge over a River’ by Willem Adrianus Grondhout, made with woodcut. You know, making a print is such a different experience than making a painting. I bet Grondhout really had to think backwards, carving away at the wood to create this scene. All that black and white and the curves of the river, really make you feel the flow of the water under the bridge. I wonder what he was thinking about while he was carving? Maybe about the people who would cross the bridge, or the boats that would pass underneath. I bet he liked the contrast between the solid bridge and the moving water. It kinda reminds me of some of the German Expressionist prints, but with a Dutch twist. There's something so immediate and physical about printmaking, like you're wrestling with the material to bring an image to life. It’s the kind of art that makes you want to get your hands dirty and make something yourself.