Portret van Geertje Kuyer 1915

Julie de Graag made this woodcut, 'Portret van Geertje Kuyer,' in 1915. What strikes me is how the graphic nature of the woodcut lends itself so beautifully to capturing the character of Geertje. The lines are not just descriptive, they're expressive. Look at the way the lines carve out the form of her face, each one deliberate, building up the planes and volumes. Then there is her gaze, drawn with great care. The density of the marks around the eyes suggests a world of knowledge. The cross-hatching of the lines on her body, in contrast, gives a sense of fabric. What’s interesting is the contrast between the face and the body, the face is very much alive while the lines on the body give it a slightly more rigid appearance. It reminds me a little of Käthe Kollwitz, whose prints also grapple with the weight and dignity of the human condition. Like Kollwitz, de Graag understands that art is about an ongoing conversation across time.