Till Eulenspiegel 1907

Curator: Let’s turn our attention to this striking woodcut. Made with ink on paper, this work created in 1907 is entitled “Till Eulenspiegel.” Editor: Oh, hello there, trickster. Immediately, it feels mischievous. The red, black and white! So stark, almost confrontational, and yet playful, like a deck of cards after a very long night. I find the borders, these circles alternating with squares to be quite clever. Curator: Urban Janke, the artist, positioned this composition within the broader currents of both Art Nouveau and Symbolism. He certainly had an appreciation for simplified forms, and embraced strong contrasts—something characteristic of the woodcut printmaking method itself. We must not forget about Janke's interests in folklore too, with his choice of Till Eulenspiegel for his theme, drawn from Northern German traditions. Editor: You've said "folklore" and now the slightly gothic look of those dog-like figures in black, hands reaching up almost desperately, begins to click in my mind. There's an anxious tension at work. Is Till leading them on or dangling just out of reach? I guess it speaks to the slippery nature of folk stories—there's always an element of unease lurking beneath the surface of every old tale. Curator: Indeed. Figures like Till are disruptive forces, characters whose subversive acts invite examination and invite the re-evaluation of social mores and hierarchies. Janke, exhibiting the influence of Symbolism, relies on simplified figuration to highlight Till's inherent tensions, portraying both freedom and precariousness. What at first seems a lively, jesting design bears deeper reading when we consider such aspects of social commentary. Editor: I love it when art gives you that "aha!" moment, but it still tickles your funny bone. Like a good joke with layers of meaning...or perhaps a well-executed prank! Urban Janke does that well in this arresting piece. I’d enjoy seeing it reproduced as an Ace of Spades; imagine the statement made on the card table. Curator: A provocative proposition, and a fitting place for him, perhaps! It goes to show that works such as "Till Eulenspiegel", invite playful, as well as thoughtful, interpretations, reminding us how relevant those earlier social critiques remain.