Liggende naakte vrouw 1884 - 1952

Reinier Willem Petrus de Vries made this print, Liggende naakte vrouw, using a woodblock technique. The reductive nature of the process is kind of wonderful; it's like a conversation between what to leave and what to take away. The palette here is so restricted, but the relationship between the light ground and the dark ink creates a strong sense of form. Look how the artist uses flat planes to define the body and the bed. There are no soft edges here, only simple, clear lines. The mark-making feels direct, immediate. The lack of shading gives the image a cool, modern feel. The gesture of her face resting in her hand is repeated in the angle of her raised foot. Both details pull you into the quiet introspection of the piece. There's a definite echo of some of Matisse's linocuts in this work, but de Vries brings his own sensibility to the medium. Ultimately, it feels unique, timeless.