Stunned, my friend stared at me. ‘You've never made a linocut before?’ Five minutes after my confession, he still hadn't recovered from the shock. Also, according to the GRID Graphic Museum, ‘we have all practiced this art form at one time or another’ and the linocut belongs to ‘educational heritage’. The exhibition Ode aan de lino (Ode to the Linocut) features the linocut in all its manifestations.
Rest assured: even if you've never gouged out a piece of linoleum and then printed it out on paper rolled in ink, the exhibition at GRID is worth a visit. Ode aan de lino is particularly notable for the versatility of the works on display. Eight artists will each exhibit a small collection of work. The result is an exhibition of modest size, but big enough to sing the praises of the linocut and to clear up a few misunderstandings.
Misconception 1: a linocut is easy
That makes sense if an elementary school pupil can do it, right? If this is your opinion, you’ve got plenty of company. The linocut technique was developed in the mid-19th century for education, as an alternative to the woodcut. As a result, the technique had no status as an art form for quite a while. In the 20th century, artists began making linocuts, and it wasn't until after World War II that it really began to boom. Ode aan de Lino shows that real craftsmanship goes hand in hand with the linocut, such as in the work of Carola Rombouts. She stylises her classic-looking portraits with a special shading method, which take on a modern appearance through the use of colour and the use of a various materials.
The linocut technique had no status as an art form for quite a while
Misconception 2: a linocut is always small
If you always gouged into a 20-by-20-inch piece of linoleum in secondary school, you may think that all linocut prints are relatively small. Very small works are also being exhibited in the GRID, such as those crafted by Shelley Savor. Even the subjects of her work are small and intimate. Bert Brouwer's work is the exact opposite. In five enormous linocuts, he brings a dark, industrial world to life. It’s impressive to see how the black lines are reflected, so to speak, in the steel structure of the museum.
Misconception 3: a linocut always look cool
Graphic shapes, solid lines, thick ink, lots of contrast: the work of Herman Mulder, on display in the exhibition, meets the expectations of the cool linocut in every way. In his work you can clearly see his childhood dream of being an architect; houses and landscapes are important motifs. Sietske Bosma's work is very fragile and anything but cool. She creates charming children’s portraits by using a mixed technique. Her linocuts have an oppressive quality. Another exhibitor who is doing away with linocut conventions is Michiel van Nieuwland. He also implements the idea of a ‘batch’ within his work, creating almost quilt-like patterns.
Misconception 4: making a linocut is awful
When I asked around in my community, people shared experiences with linoleum that ranged from ‘miserable’ to ‘life-threatening’. Admittedly, a printing technique that gives you blisters on your hands wouldn’t be expected to be a worldwide favourite. To top it all off, you can easily cut away too much material, which is frustrating — or even painful — if you mistake your own hands for linoleum.
‘Printing upon printing upon printing until the print is born’
For exhibitor Sietske Bosma, there’s nothing more wonderful than creating a linocut: ‘The inks, the press, the beautiful sheets with their exquisite raw edges, the artisanal process, the resistance I feel when I cut into the linoleum, the smell of printing ink...there’s nothing more inspiring to me. Printing upon printing upon printing until the print is born.’
The real praise, of course, is in the work exhibited and not in words. And that’s really effective: there is so much beauty to see and experience in Ode aan de lino. The exhibition is definitely recommended if you’d like to broaden your view of visual art a bit, regardless of the kind of memories you have of the linocut. And not all the results from my little survey were so terrible in the end. Many people talked about the pleasant smell of linoleum as a memory or the calming nature of the activity. And don’t forget: no guts, no glory! (editor’s note: guts is Dutch for ‘gouge’)
Ode aan de Lino will be on display at GRID Graphic Museum until 15 January 2017.
Text: Gerdine Kruizinga
Image 1: Sietske Bosma, Fernweh no. 5, 2016 (detail) via GRID Graphic Museum
Photos 2 and 3: Sander van der Bij
Reading Tip!
Because linocuts are often made in batches, they are a great option for when you want to bring affordable art into your home. Check out our article for 6 concrete tips.