Nieuwjaarswens voor 1938 van Gianni Mantero 1937

This is an undated print by an anonymous artist; a New Year's greeting card made for Gianni Mantero around 1938. The composition, reminiscent of an Expressionist woodcut, uses bold lines to depict a small ship struggling against a stormy sea. The sails are emblazoned with the name ‘Gianni Mantero’. Figures clamber on deck amidst life buoys, while a cherubic figure stands lookout on the mast. The overall effect is one of precariousness. The sepia ink lends a nostalgic quality, yet the dynamic lines and chaotic composition suggest a world in flux. The image is not merely a greeting; it is a comment on the uncertainty of the times, conveyed through its dramatic, almost frantic mark-making. The juxtaposition of the cherub and the turbulent sea encapsulates the tensions between hope and despair that were so resonant during the period. The image does not offer a simple message of cheer. It’s formal qualities underscore a more nuanced reflection on the human condition amidst historical currents, leaving us to consider the complexities of hope, and the resilience of the human spirit.