Keizerpinguin op audientie c. 1927 - 1937

Theo de Vries made this work, called "Keizerpinguin op audientie," which translates to Emperor Penguin on Audience, using woodcut techniques. What I notice first is the interplay of black and white, not just as colors, but as positive and negative space, carving out these stark, yet playful forms. Look closely, and you'll see how De Vries uses line—thick, thin, long, short—to build the texture and depth. The way the sun is rendered with radiating lines, almost like musical notes, gives the piece a rhythmic feel. And then there are those penguins, marching in their formal attire toward this almost futuristic city in the background. The penguins themselves are a study in contrasts: their smooth bodies against the jagged ice, their determined march against the unknown skyline. This print reminds me a bit of the German Expressionist woodcuts, artists like Kirchner, who used a similar directness to convey raw emotion. The artwork feels less like a statement and more like an open question, inviting us to ponder the relationship between nature and civilization.