Donna Nella Notte 

Ernst Ludwig Kirchner made this woodcut print, "Donna Nella Notte," using a technique that’s both ancient and strikingly modern. The process starts with a block of wood; Kirchner would have carved away areas to leave a raised design. When inked and pressed onto paper, the remaining wood prints the image. Look closely, and you can see the texture of the grain adding another layer to the print. The bold lines and sharp angles are typical of the Expressionist movement, yet the woodcut medium itself has roots in folk art and early book printing. By embracing this technique, Kirchner was not only making a powerful visual statement but also challenging the divide between fine art and craft. The labor-intensive process, requiring both physical skill and artistic vision, imbues the print with a raw, immediate quality, reflecting the intense emotions Kirchner sought to convey. So, next time you look at a print, consider the work involved, and how materials and making can be just as important as the image itself.