Uranus 1880 - 1932

Henri van der Stok made this woodcut, Uranus, with a real economy of mark-making to create a stark image. The sharp contrast makes it read clearly; it's all about strong shapes and simple gestures. What I like about woodcuts is how the artist has to really think about positive and negative space. The black areas define the image, but so do the white ones, right? Like the lines that make up the face. It feels like Van der Stok chipped away at the wood to find this stern expression. There's something ancient and futuristic about it, a combination I find super compelling. It reminds me of a few artists, maybe Hilma af Klint, with its interest in spiritualism, or even some of the German Expressionists, who were also into bold statements. But it's very much its own thing. Art is always a conversation, an echo of voices across time. It never gives you one simple answer.