Twee jongens en een ezel - Julie de Graag

A clean, graphic woodcut by Julie de Graag depicting two boys with a donkey, executed in a minimalist Art Nouveau style.

This woodcut by the Dutch artist Julie de Graag captures a quiet, observational moment. The composition features two boys interacting with a donkey, rendered with the precise, clean lines characteristic of the artist's graphic work. De Graag, who studied at the Royal Academy of Art in The Hague, developed a distinct visual language that often favoured simplified forms and a restrained use of black and white. Her approach to the medium reflects the influence of the Art Nouveau movement, particularly in the balance between the figures and the surrounding negative space.

The scene is framed within a rectangular border, a common device in her graphic prints that creates a sense of detachment from the surrounding paper. One boy stands beside the donkey, holding a stick, while the other pulls gently on the animal's lead. The donkey itself is depicted with subtle textural details, contrasting with the flatter, more graphic treatment of the boys' clothing and the horizon line. The work avoids unnecessary ornamentation, focusing instead on the clarity of the silhouette and the rhythmic quality of the lines.

De Graag was known for her ability to distill complex subjects into essential shapes. This print demonstrates her technical proficiency with the woodblock, where every mark serves a purpose in defining the form. The lack of heavy shading allows the viewer to focus on the interaction between the figures, creating a narrative that feels both timeless and grounded in the early twentieth-century Dutch aesthetic. Her work remains a clear example of the graphic arts tradition in the Netherlands, where the woodcut was frequently employed for its ability to produce bold, legible imagery.