Gargantua: Chapter IV 

This is "Gargantua: Chapter IV", a woodcut made by Bernard Reder. The dominant impression is one of dynamic tension. A massive, dark bull overwhelms the composition, looming over a crouched figure with spiky hair. The stark contrast between the black ink and the pale background heightens the drama. Reder uses bold lines to define the shapes, creating a sense of weight and volume in the bull, and vulnerability in the figure below. This formal arrangement speaks to the themes of power and subjugation. The bull, rendered in thick, textured strokes, seems to embody brute force. The figure's posture, a mix of resistance and submission, is conveyed through the angularity of the body and limbs, emphasizing the figure's struggle within the composition. The visual tension suggests a questioning of hierarchical structures. Is it a celebration, critique, or observation of power dynamics? The work remains open to interpretation.