Besneeuwde stad 1904 - 1937

Here's a print, "Besneeuwde stad" or "Snowy City", made by Johan van Hell, where crisp lines of black ink conjure a winter scene alive with playful energy. I can almost feel the artist carving into the block, each cut deliberate, defining the stark contrast between the snow-covered ground and the dark buildings. Look at the figures scattered across the scene—kids sledding, people strolling—each one a tiny narrative. What were they thinking? What did they want to express? I always wonder that when I see figures like these. This print reminds me of others who experimented with black and white—Munch comes to mind, with his woodcuts of human emotion. Van Hell’s choice to depict a simple city scene in this way is deeply personal. In an artist's hands, a simple scene is elevated to a shared experience, a conversation across time and medium. What does it make you think about?