Eline Brontsema (1988) graduated in 2020 with woodcuts and paintings. Through her teacher Siemen Dijkstra, she came into contact with woodcuts. For her prints she makes use of the reduction technique, also known as a ‘suicide method’: the print is created from a single wooden plate for all the different colors. The wooden plate is systematically destroyed and a mistake in cutting can spoil a whole edition of prints. Part of the plate is cut out, so that the higher parts absorb ink. The first color can now be printed. The entire edition can now be printed with the first color.
The works have to dry for a few days and in the meantime the next part can be cut out. The next color can then be printed. This process must be repeated until the print is finished, a very time consuming way of working.
Eline creates detailed woodcuts of the world around her. While traditionally this woodcut technique uses a limited amount of colors, Eline makes use of many different color layers, which gives her work painterly qualities. Composition is very important to her. The rhythm of shapes, color harmony and the play of light and shadow are important for the atmosphere of a place she wants to depict.