Dancer Practicing 1934

Ernst Ludwig Kirchner made this woodcut, 'Dancer Practicing' with stark black lines carved into, probably, a soft block of wood. The process feels immediate, raw. You can almost hear the scrape of the knife. Look at the dancer's leg, stretched out in that deep plié. The line defining her calf is thick and unwavering, full of confidence, like the artist knew exactly what he wanted to say. The negative space around the figures pulses with energy, those little dots like musical notes, or maybe sweat, or maybe just the chaotic energy of creation. The black and white contrast is so intense, it's almost violent, but also incredibly alive. Kirchner's work reminds me a little of the graphic boldness of someone like Elizabeth Catlett, although Catlett brought a humanist sensibility to her work, while Kirchner's always has this edgy, nervous energy. It's all about expression, about feeling, and about the beautiful mess of making art.