The Old Year 

Felix Timmermans created "The Old Year" as a woodcut, a process of cutting an image into the surface of a block of wood, leaving the printing parts level with the surface while removing the non-printing parts. Timmermans, writing in Belgium during two World Wars, was a devout Catholic whose religious beliefs permeated his art. Here, a man sits in contemplative prayer, holding a rosary. The stark contrasts might indicate his grief as he reflects on the previous year. Outside the window, a lonely, barren winter scene suggests themes of isolation and introspection. Note the burning candle and the descending dove, alluding to the Holy Spirit. Timmermans’s traditional approach offers solace and contemplation, aligning with his deep religious convictions.