Veld en huis 1918

Gustave De Smet made this woodcut titled 'Veld en huis' in 1918, and it's like stepping into a stark dream. The way he's carved out the black and white spaces, it feels so decisive. Look how the white areas aren't just blank; they're alive with texture, like the grain of the wood is part of the scene itself. Then you notice the details, see that almost cartoonish house and the strange, angular clouds. It’s like he’s wrestling with the landscape, simplifying it, but also making it kind of menacing. I’m reminded of other early Expressionists, like Heckel or Schmidt-Rottluff, who were similarly obsessed with the raw power of the woodcut. There’s something deeply satisfying about the boldness and simplicity of this print. You can tell he felt something real for this landscape. Ultimately that's what makes it so affecting, all these years later.