Vogel before 1942

Reijer Stolk made this image of a bird, simply titled 'Vogel', using printmaking techniques. I’m looking at the push and pull between the brown and blue areas, and the little white polka dots. I can imagine Stolk in the studio, inking and pressing the block, and the slight misalignments—happy accidents—that bring a sense of liveliness to the print. What was he thinking about as he made it? How did he decide which colors to use? The stylized quality of the image also has a real charm; it reminds me of patterns on old textiles or ceramics. Even though it’s just a print, the graphic language feels connected to other image makers—as if Stolk is in conversation with them, riffing off their ideas and adding his own voice to the mix. It's a reminder that art doesn't happen in a vacuum.