Indian Motif 1943 - 1944

Werner Drewes created "Indian Motif", a striking woodcut, using stark black ink on paper. The composition is dominated by geometric forms, a deliberate arrangement of shapes that seem to simultaneously construct and deconstruct a landscape. Notice how Drewes employs a binary of black and white to define the abstract space, creating depth through contrasting textures and patterns. The rough, carved lines of the woodcut enhance the visual tension, evoking a sense of primitive modernism. "Indian Motif" can be viewed as a semiotic exercise. The title itself is a signifier, yet the abstract forms resist direct interpretation. Drewes may be challenging fixed notions of cultural representation, inviting us to question how we assign meaning to visual symbols. Consider how the formal qualities of line and shape challenge traditional artistic conventions. Is Drewes creating a dialogue between abstraction and representation, or is he dismantling the very idea of a stable, coherent image? Ultimately, the artwork destabilizes established meanings, prompting ongoing interpretation.