A striking graphic work by Dutch artist Fred van der Wal, featuring a surreal figure integrated with scissors in a bold, high-contrast colour palette.

Fred van der Wal is a Dutch artist known for his graphic approach to figurative subjects. This work, titled Vrouw met schaar 2, demonstrates his interest in the intersection of the human form and everyday objects. The composition presents a headless torso clad in a swimsuit, positioned against a backdrop of horizontal stripes. The figure is physically integrated with scissors, as the blades replace the limbs and head of the subject. This visual substitution creates a sense of displacement and surrealism, common in the artist's output.

The colour palette is restricted to high-contrast tones, primarily cyan, deep blue, and a saturated orange-red. The application of paint is flat, avoiding traditional modelling or shading to maintain a graphic, poster-like quality. The lines are precise, defining the contours of the swimsuit and the sharp edges of the scissors. The background is divided into two distinct zones: a solid blue upper section and a striped lower section, which provides a stable base for the figure.

Van der Wal often explores themes of identity and fragmentation. By removing the head and replacing extremities with sharp tools, he invites the viewer to consider the relationship between the body and the objects that define or constrain it. The work avoids narrative clutter, focusing instead on the stark interaction between the organic shape of the torso and the mechanical geometry of the scissors. This print captures the clean lines and bold colour choices that define the artist's practice, making it a striking example of modern graphic art. The work is presented with a clean border, maintaining the integrity of the original composition.