Boerin 1929

This is "Boerin" by Jo Bezaan, a small but mighty woodcut. What strikes me right away is the way she fearlessly carves the wood to create this portrait, it's all about contrasts, black and white, there's no room for gray areas here. I love the way the patterns on the figure's clothing clash with the organic shapes of the trees and horse in the background. It's like a visual tug-of-war between the man-made and the natural world. And that face! It has such a stoic quality, like a mask. Look closely at the way Bezaan uses short, choppy lines to create texture and depth. It gives the whole image a sense of movement, as if the figure and the landscape are vibrating with energy. It reminds me a little of the German Expressionists, like Kirchner or Heckel, but with a folk art twist. It's like Bezaan is tapping into something primal and raw, but with a sense of humor.