Tijger 1934

Tinus van Doorn created this linocut, titled ‘Tijger’, at some point in his short life. The black ink is laid down with a decisive hand, almost like he's carving stone rather than cutting lino. Look closely at the tiger's body – the rhythmic, bold lines suggest ribs, a touch morbid, maybe, but also a little playful. I love how the spots are almost too regular, giving the tiger a kind of patterned, decorative feel. Then there's that simple tree and moon in the background, making the whole scene feel like it’s from a children's book or a folk tale. Van Doorn didn’t make many prints, and I can’t help but see echoes of the German Expressionist woodcuts of someone like Franz Marc. Both had this simplified, stylized way of representing animals. But where Marc’s animals are all vibrant and full of life, Van Doorn's tiger has a quiet stillness, a sort of calm acceptance. Art, you know, it’s never really about one thing. It's like a conversation, an ongoing exchange of ideas where each artist adds their own little twist.