Women 1917

'Women' is a woodcut created by Emil Nolde, an artist who lived through some of the most tumultuous periods of European history. Nolde’s artistic journey was deeply intertwined with the Expressionist movement, a cultural phenomenon that sought to convey subjective emotions and responses to the modern world through art. Looking at this piece, it’s hard not to consider how the representation of women here might reflect broader societal attitudes and gender dynamics of the time. The starkness of the black and white, the rawness of the carved lines, might suggest a world of stark contrasts and perhaps even harsh realities for women in society. The faces are confrontational, challenging us to look, but what do we see? Are they victims or survivors? Are they defined by beauty or strength? What do you feel when you look at these women?