Nieuwjaarswens voor 1935 van Wilhelm en Trude Johannsen-Plon 1934

Curator: This bold print immediately gives me a sense of the sea's raw power. The high contrast and sharp lines suggest a tumultuous journey, perhaps even a perilous one. Editor: That’s an interesting read. We’re looking at "Nieuwjaarswens voor 1935 van Wilhelm en Trude Johannsen-Plön," created in 1934 by Wilhelm Johannsen. It appears to be a linocut or woodcut print, and what we know is that Johannsen made the prints with his wife Trude. Curator: The medium speaks volumes! Linocut requires deliberate, forceful cuts. This wasn't casual; this was work. The strong contrast, then, serves a purpose – creating a visually arresting image out of a readily available and economical medium. Do we know how many of these were printed? I’d love to get a sense of the print run. Editor: Print run data is proving hard to find but the medium itself - a linocut - speaks volumes about distribution; they may have seen it as a functional form of holiday card sent among colleagues, and perhaps close family and friends. The social implications of using an affordable, reproducible medium, such as this print technique are key. How did this choice influence their access and interactions with the broader community? Curator: Absolutely. Thinking about this circulated amongst Johannsen’s social circle makes this so much more powerful to me. We can explore the context and reception by those to whom it was gifted to, perhaps by investigating what kind of professional sphere they moved within and, in effect, what the artwork signalled. Editor: The symbolism itself—the ship, the stars, the 'Gluck und Sege' which translates into 'luck and sails', reinforces this sense of guidance into the New Year. The waves and creatures below feel hopeful but simultaneously threatening. Curator: Exactly. The vessel bravely navigating a black sea seems like the perfect material metaphor for navigating uncertain times and the socio-political atmosphere back then must be considered when understanding its appeal. How interesting it would be to see if recipients archived these prints, year after year. Editor: What started as a seemingly simple holiday card unlocks insights into materiality and class, demonstrating how a traditional art piece challenges conventions. Curator: Yes, revealing complex connections to society and the period they inhabited!