Hockey - Reijer Stolk

A bold Art Deco woodcut by Dutch artist Reijer Stolk, featuring a stylized hockey player in a striped jersey with striking hand-coloured accents.

Reijer Stolk was a Dutch graphic artist and painter known for his work in woodcut and batik techniques. Born in Java, his early exposure to Indonesian textile arts influenced his approach to pattern and colour. This piece, titled Hockey, demonstrates his ability to simplify complex forms into bold, geometric compositions. The image depicts a figure in a striped sports jersey, rendered with heavy black outlines and flat planes of colour. The composition is tightly framed, with the subject's torso and equipment filling the pictorial space. Stolk uses vertical blue stripes to define the texture of the garment, contrasted against solid blocks of pink and yellow against a teal background. The hand-lettered title at the base of the print reflects the typography of the early twentieth century, aligning the work with the graphic sensibilities of the Art Deco period. The use of a limited palette and strong contours creates a sense of movement without relying on traditional shading or depth. Stolk was a member of the Vereeniging tot Bevordering der Grafische Kunst (Association for the Promotion of Graphic Art). His work often bridged the gap between fine art and commercial design. In this print, the use of primary and secondary colours creates a balanced visual rhythm. The absence of traditional perspective emphasises the decorative quality of the image, a characteristic common in Dutch graphic art of the 1920s. This print is a representative example of Stolk's interest in modern life and sporting subjects. The artist often explored the intersection of traditional printmaking and contemporary themes. By reducing the human form to its essential lines, Stolk achieved a modern aesthetic that remains visually effective. The work is part of a broader series of graphic studies where the artist experimented with the physical properties of ink and paper.