Portret van C.P.M. Romme 1929

This is Meijer Bleekrode’s ‘Portret van C.P.M. Romme’, made with woodcut on paper. I can only imagine the focus and the energy it would take to carve into wood. It's like a dance of intention and accident. The portrait is a study in contrasts; the light and shadow create a rhythm, the sharp lines give Romme’s face a geometric quality, making him look both modern and imposing. Bleekrode must have been fascinated by this guy Romme. I wonder if he knew him? Or was he just drawn to his strong features? The ear, for example, is not just an ear, it’s a series of carefully placed cuts that suggest depth and form, and, dare I say, a hint of curiosity, or is it apprehension? It reminds me of those old expressionist prints, where the artists were trying to capture not just what someone looked like but how they felt, how they lived. And that’s what art does, right? It lets us see the world, and each other, in new ways. Bleekrode is not just showing us Romme; he's inviting us to see what he saw in him.