Joy (Freude) 

Margarethe von Stockhausen made this striking woodcut print titled "Joy" – or "Freude" in German. The image presents us with a mother gazing upwards at her child, who appears to be floating above her in a kind of protective embrace. The rough, expressive cuts in the woodblock give the image a raw, emotional intensity. We see the way the artist uses graphic techniques reminiscent of German Expressionism, which flourished in the early 20th century. Consider the ways in which the work fits into a broader history of art produced in Germany that sought to convey deep feeling. As historians, we can research the cultural and political context in which von Stockhausen worked. We can ask, what were the dominant ideas about motherhood and childhood in post-war Germany? Was she associated with any artistic movements or groups? What can her choice of the woodcut medium tell us about her artistic aims and her relationship to tradition? By exploring these questions, we can gain a richer appreciation of the social meanings embedded in this powerful image.