Blick ins Tal 1916

Carl Thiemann made this print, Blick ins Tal, which translates as 'View of the Valley', using colored inks on paper. Look at the light radiating from the center; it’s like a stage spotlight illuminating these trees. The trunks, almost turquoise, stand tall against a yellowish sky. I wonder what it was like for Thiemann to create this image. You know, how he decided where to carve, which colors to use… The texture is so interesting! It's not just flat; you can almost feel the grain of the woodblock. It must have taken him ages to carve each layer. And the way the colors overlap, like the dark greens and lighter greens of the grass, adds depth and richness. It reminds me a little of the German Expressionists, like Emil Nolde, in its use of strong color and simplified form. But it also reminds me to consider how artists are always looking at each other's work, borrowing ideas, and pushing boundaries. And that's what makes art so exciting, isn't it? It's an ongoing conversation across time, a constant exchange of ideas.