Twee vrouwen aangevallen en een gekroonde adelaar c. 1917

This arresting image, ‘Two Women Attacked by a Crowned Eagle’ is a color woodcut print by Francis Ernest Jackson. The process involves carving a design into a block of wood, inking the raised surface, and then pressing it onto paper – a laborious method demanding precision and skill. Look at the flat planes of color and bold outlines, achieved through the careful registration of multiple blocks, each contributing a different hue. Notice the intricate patterns on the figures’ robes, likely achieved by painstaking carving. The texture of the paper itself adds to the overall effect, giving the print a tactile quality. Jackson’s choice of woodcut, a medium often associated with folk art and illustration, is significant. By embracing this technique, he elevates it to the realm of fine art, challenging traditional hierarchies. This print, with its blend of medieval imagery and modern printmaking, is a testament to the power of materials and processes to imbue art with meaning.