Picture post card 1945

Sikko van der Woude made this postcard, and the palette is pure cartoon: bold colours, a basic range of tones, and everything is outlined in ink. It's playful, immediate, and full of joy. There's a lightness to it, a simplicity of form that makes it feel fresh and lively. You get the sense Van der Woude wasn't trying to hide the process, the charm is in the directness and naivety of the marks. Take that face, for example - simple shapes that combine to give a real sense of cheeky character. There's something that reminds me of Red Grooms in the way that drawing, caricature and form combine. Ultimately it's a reminder that art is a conversation and an exchange of ideas. There is room for everyone at the table and ambiguity should be embraced.