Zwarte man 1924

This is Zwarte man, or Black man, a woodcut made by Meijer Bleekrode. Look at how Bleekrode attacks the woodblock, making stark, almost violent cuts, to create this profile. There's a raw energy here, right? And the choice of woodcut? It’s like he's embracing the gritty, unforgiving nature of the medium itself. The contrast between the dark, inky blacks and the stark white of the paper is striking. Notice the man’s open mouth and the way the light catches his brow and cheek. Each mark feels decisive, unyielding. The lines around the eye and mouth are particularly intense, full of feeling, pushing the emotional impact of the piece. It reminds me a bit of some of the German Expressionists, like Kirchner, who weren't afraid to use the woodcut medium to explore raw emotion. Ultimately, this piece exists in a space of ambiguity and raw expression. It's not about answers; it's about wrestling with questions.