Zij die het bosch in vluchtten, werden neergeschoten - Jo Bezaan

A stark 1944 woodcut by Dutch resistance artist Jo Bezaan, depicting a harrowing scene of wartime violence in the forest.

This woodcut by Dutch artist Jo Bezaan, dated 1944, captures a harrowing scene from the Second World War. The composition employs the stark, high-contrast aesthetic typical of the woodcut medium to convey the violence of the occupation. In the foreground, figures in uniform are depicted from behind, their forms rendered in solid black blocks that dominate the frame. They are positioned in pursuit of fleeing individuals who are visible in the distance, their small, frantic forms silhouetted against the trees.

The artist uses sharp, angular lines to define the forest environment, creating a sense of claustrophobia and tension. The diagonal lines of the ground lead the eye directly toward the figures in flight, heightening the narrative urgency. Bezaan, who was active in the Dutch resistance, often used his art to document the realities of the war. The inscription at the bottom, 'Zij die het bosch in vluchtten, werden neergeschoten' (Those who fled into the woods were shot down), provides a grim, factual account of the event depicted.

This work belongs to a series of prints produced during the final years of the conflict. It avoids romanticised depictions of war, opting instead for a direct, unflinching portrayal of brutality. The heavy use of black ink against the white paper creates a graphic quality that emphasises the stark divide between the oppressor and the victim. As a piece of historical documentation, it offers a glimpse into the personal and collective trauma experienced in the Netherlands during the 1940s. The print is a powerful example of how artists utilised traditional printmaking techniques to communicate political and social realities under duress.