Nude IX 1918

This woodcut, *Nude IX*, by Georg Schrimpf, is such a striking composition of black and white. You can almost imagine the artist carving away at the wood, each precise cut defining form and shadow. I can’t help but think about what it must have been like to create this image. Schrimpf probably considered every line, every curve, and the interplay between light and dark. The two figures, maybe in a forest, are so solid. It’s all about contrast. The negative space becomes just as important as the figures themselves, pushing and pulling at our perception. Looking at the shapes, I see a conversation happening with other artists, like the German Expressionists, who were also exploring bold lines and simplified forms. Artists are always talking to each other like that, across time. I love how this print leaves room for ambiguity and invites us to bring our own interpretations. It’s a reminder that art is a process of discovery, both for the artist and for us, the viewers.