Picture post card 1945

This postcard by Sikko van der Woude is made up of simple drawings with thin outlines and flat colours, which gives it a charmingly naive feel. It's like looking at a child's storybook illustration, with all its directness and playful exaggeration. Look at the way the characters are drawn, particularly the fisherman with his oversized clogs and pipe. There's a sense of humour here, a willingness to embrace caricature, and a simple desire to amuse. I love the duck swimming in the water, a simple yellow shape. Or the smoke coming out of the jeep. It’s these little details that bring the whole thing to life. It puts me in mind of Red Grooms, another artist with a love for playful, cartoonish imagery. The kind of art that reminds you not to take things too seriously.