Tempelpoort op Bali 1910s

Wijnand Otto Jan Nieuwenkamp made this print, Tempelpoort op Bali, and like many prints it's about stark contrasts. I think about mark-making as a kind of conversation with the material, and here the conversation is all about light and dark. Look at the way the artist used the block to carve out the intricate details of the temple gate. The dense, almost obsessive, pattern-making versus the smooth, blank areas creates a push and pull, a visual rhythm that's both calming and energizing. The way the steps lead into the open space, with that tiny figure perched at the top, it's like being invited into another world. Nieuwenkamp’s print reminds me of woodcuts by someone like Gauguin. Both artists shared that impulse to capture exotic landscapes and cultures. But what stands out is how this piece embraces the play between clarity and mystery, inviting us to bring our own experiences and interpretations. It's not about answers but about the ongoing, evolving nature of seeing.