Composition, from the portfolio "New European Graphics, Portfolio III: German Artists" c. 1921

Curator: Here we have "Composition," a woodcut by Jacoba van Heemskerck, part of the "New European Graphics" portfolio. Editor: Wow, it hits you, doesn't it? It's like peering into a storm, a chaotic dance of black and white. Curator: Absolutely. Van Heemskerck, a prominent figure in German Expressionism, employed this stark contrast to explore abstraction in the early 20th century. The portfolio itself aimed to showcase innovative printmaking across Europe. Editor: I see the expression, a kind of visual scream maybe. But in the end, the bold lines give it a strange peace. Like the storm has passed. Curator: It's fascinating how she captures that tension. Expressionism was a voice for the unheard, a visual language for societal anxieties. Editor: Yeah, this piece makes you feel something without telling you what to feel. Always the best art, isn't it? Curator: Precisely. A testament to van Heemskerck's ability to channel emotion through pure form.