Bouw van de toren van Babel 1900 - 1904

Wijnand Otto Jan Nieuwenkamp made this woodcut, "Construction of the Tower of Babel", in April 1900. Look at how Nieuwenkamp creates a whole world with just a few marks and simple means. It is amazing how art can transform the simplest materials into potent expression. The textures are built from fine parallel lines, which create a sense of depth. It is like he's thinking through the different layers of meaning or the layers of construction in the Tower of Babel itself. See how those lines go from thick and dark to light and sparse, evoking a sense of scale. It’s a powerful way to represent the unfinishable. Notice the cloud above the tower – the way the lines curve and swirl gives it a sense of movement and ominousness. This reminds me a bit of Piranesi's architectural prints, where the structure feels as though it's both real and imaginary, monumental and a little absurd. Art always seems to enter into conversation across time and space.