Head of a Girl 1920

Editor: Here we have Max Kaus's 1920 woodcut, "Head of a Girl." The starkness of the black and white really grabs you, and there's something almost unsettling about the way the face is fractured into these sharp angles. What are your initial thoughts? Curator: Unsettling is a brilliant word for it! To me, it feels like a window into a turbulent mind. Look at the way he's hacked away at the wood to create these brutal lines. The portrait style and use of monochrome do evoke strong emotions, a lot like some portraits done during the German Expressionism movement. The emotion that jumps out to you here: is it hers, the artist's, or…maybe even your own reflected back? Editor: I think it's a combination, definitely intensified by the expressive, almost violent technique. I get a sense of inner turmoil, or maybe she's just…tired? Curator: Yes, “tired” nails a certain element. The weariness of a generation perhaps. This was just after the First World War, an era of immense upheaval. These jagged lines that you see aren't just about form; they mirror a world fractured by conflict. This reminds me of Edvard Munch's idea that art should be "arrested emotions." Wouldn't you agree? Editor: I do. It makes me see the image differently, like I’m getting a glimpse into history and how the artist reflected and expressed such history, even within a single face. Thank you! Curator: My pleasure! Art is like a conversation, wouldn't you agree? It sparks curiosity. Now I can't wait to delve even deeper!