Man en edelhert 1935

Aristide Maillol made this print, “Man en edelhert” using woodcut, and it's a real head-scratcher, right? The graphic black and white makes the image pop. I love how the stark contrast emphasizes the raw, almost primitive quality. The cuts are so direct, so unpretentious. Maillol isn’t trying to hide the process; he’s embracing it. I'm thinking of the relationship between the rough, almost jagged edges of the black block and the smoothness of the figures within. Looking at the reclining figure with the deer, I can’t help but think about the surreal quality of the image, this bizarre coupling of human and animal. It’s got this mix of classical form and dreamlike imagery. I'm reminded of other printmakers like Paula Modersohn-Becker, who also explored the female form with a similar kind of earthy sensibility. It’s art that isn’t afraid to be a little weird, a little unsettling, and a lot thought-provoking.