Antilopen 1880 - 1932

Henri van der Stok's "Antilopen" seems to have been made with a woodblock on paper, which immediately makes me think about the quiet, repetitive labor involved. I picture the artist carefully carving away at the block, deciding what to leave and what to take away, like a sculptor working in reverse. The texture is soft, not aggressive, with just a gentle tone of brown. There's a stillness to the composition, which is interesting, because antelopes are such active creatures. The animal standing looks alert, and the animal laying down seems almost melancholy. I can't help but wonder if van der Stok saw something of himself in these animals. I feel a bit like the antelope at rest here! It makes me think about all the printmakers over time and the dialogue they have between them, carving and printing, each adding their own voice to this quiet, powerful conversation.