Kalenderblad voor april tot en met juni 1935 1934

This calendar page for April through June 1935 was made by Jo Bezaan as a wood engraving. Look at the way they’ve approached the marks here, it’s not about illusionism, but about a real sense of touch. The image is basically black and white, but Bezaan coaxes out a whole range of tones by varying the density of the marks. Notice the contrast between the dark, dense foliage and the lighter sky. The thatched roofs of the houses are rendered with these incredibly tactile marks that give them real physical presence. The whole thing has this very grounded feel, like a conversation between the artist and the material that brings to mind the graphic work of someone like Emil Nolde. It reminds you that art is always about seeing and feeling the world in new ways.