Boerenbedrijf before 1931

Else Berg made this woodcut, ‘Boerenbedrijf,’ meaning ‘Farm’ in Dutch, at an unknown date. What strikes me is the contrast between the dark, almost bruised-looking areas and the sharp white lines that carve out these figures. I can imagine Berg, hand-pressing each print, watching as the image slowly appeared, a testament to the labor it depicts. The image seems to me like a world condensed: fields, a house, trees, animals grazing. It's as if I’m peering into a memory of something, or maybe the feeling of a place rather than a literal representation. Look how the figure working the land is bent over and intensely focused. You feel the weight of the task, the closeness to the earth, and the connection to this cycle of work and nature. Berg’s work often explores themes of everyday life and the natural world, reflecting a fascination with capturing the essence of her surroundings. This piece reminds me of similar prints by other artists from the early 20th century, each carving out their view of the world, one line at a time.