(Girl caught in a wind)

Gusti Von Becker

Information on the life of painter, printmaker, and illustrator Gusti von Becker - later known as Gusti von Becker-Melly - is very limited, and the bulk of her recorded output seems to have been limited to between 1897 and the early 1910s. However, she was clearly an accomplished artist with a style that echoes the leading European Seccesionists and illustrators of the time, such as Kay Nielsen, and her compositions that reflect the Western world’s preoccupation with the Arts & Crafts style.

In this untitled woodcut, a young woman in a voluminous gown is climbing a hill on a windy day, her skirts twisting around her form, flowing scarf and feathered hat appearing to pull her forward. The subtle color in this piece appears to be the result of a sheen overlying the surface; whether on purpose or accidental, it lends to the feeling of ephemeralness and femininity.

Of note to the authors of The Studio magazine in 1906 was Von Becker’s expert ability to "coax delicate patterns from the block, layered upon one another without the use of a key block." This is evident in the soft moss green dot pattern overlaid with tiny blue roses.