Lizards 1912

Franz Marc made this small woodcut, Lizards, using knives and gouges to carve the image out of a block of wood, in what looks like a really physical, almost violent way. It is a process of removal as much as making. The textures are varied and energetic, with thick, bold lines contrasting against finer, more delicate marks. Look at the lower left corner, the ways the parallel lines create a sense of depth and movement. The contrast between the stark black ink and the untouched paper creates a striking visual impact. The whole thing is a world created out of pure contrast. This reminds me a bit of some of the later woodcuts of Gauguin, when he was in Tahiti. Both artists manage to create a primitive, raw energy from the act of cutting into wood. It's like they are trying to get back to something essential through the act of making.