Stephan Balkenhol – Untitled (Etched Silence), 2007 – Woodcut

Paper: 100.3 x 70.5 cm - Image: 86 x 59.5 cm

Untitled (Etched Silence) (2007) by Stephan Balkenhol is a contemplative woodcut that distills the artist’s signature approach to figuration into a stark, linear profile. Rendered in black and white, the portrait shows a solitary male figure in profile, his features defined by sharp, etched lines that evoke the texture and manual labor of woodcutting. The figure’s expression is neutral, introspective, and still, framed by a dark background that intensifies the contrast and imbues the scene with a quiet psychological presence. Balkenhol, known for his sculpture and graphic work, often presents anonymous figures stripped of overt narrative, inviting reflection on identity and presence. In this woodcut, the sense of silence is palpable—not only in the subject’s pose but in the austere medium itself. The work is part of an edition of 48, with additional artist’s and hors commerce copies.

Stephan Balkenhol (Germany, 1957) is a celebrated sculptor known for his painted wooden figures that combine simplicity with emotional depth. Often depicting everyday people, his works explore themes of identity and humanity while maintaining a sense of mystery. Balkenhol’s art bridges traditional craftsmanship and contemporary expression, earning him recognition worldwide.

Stephan Balkenhol

Untitled (Etched Silence), 2007

Form

Limited Edition Print

Limited Edition PrintA limited edition print is one of a number of prints made at the same time from one printmaking plate. A fixed number are made and signed by the artist, indicating the printing order, using the format 1/10, meaning first of ten prints.

Medium

Woodcut

WoodcutWoodcut is a printing technique where an image is carved into the surface of a woodblock using gouges, with the remaining flat surface holding the ink for printing. The areas cut away by the artist do not carry ink, while the uncut areas do, producing the desired print. The carving follows the wood's grain, unlike wood engraving, where the block is cut across the end-grain. Ink is applied to the surface with a roller, ensuring only the flat, uncarved areas receive ink, leaving the recessed, non-printing areas clean.

Edition

Edition of 48 + VI A.P. + VI H.C.

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Sculpture / Object

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Stephan Balkenhol

Tapestry

EUR 12,000

Stephan Balkenhol

Köpfe (W-large), 2006

Tapestry

EUR 12,000

Stephan Balkenhol

Köpfe (B), 2006

Tapestry

EUR 6,500

Stephan Balkenhol

Köpfe (G), 2006

Tapestry

EUR 6,500

Stephan Balkenhol

Sculpture / Object

Acclaimed for his carvings that depict the human-form in a multitude of poses and positions, Stephan Balkenhol is a German sculptor and painter. His sculptures are often carved from blocks of wood with the use of traditional tools – his work is then transformed into a recognisable form with the use of a chisel, light painting of the surface and the creation of highlights and shadows through gradation. His earliest works included the nude form of a human atop a pedestal, works that recalled classical Greek busts – his attention to detail highlights such features as the curve of the eyebrow or the volume of the lip. Balkenhol’s most recent works are largely created with no apparent emotion to detect, and no obvious political or social critique; of this, Balkenhol has stated, “I’m perhaps proposing a story and not telling the end, just giving a beginning or fragment. There is still a lot for the spectator to complete.”

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Artwork by Miles Aldridge

What is contemporary art?

Contemporary art refers to avant-garde or innovative art created in the recent past or present day. The exact starting point of contemporary art varies depending on the institution, often tied to the founding year of museums or galleries that showcase the style. Contemporary art is characterized by its focus on current ideas, diverse media, and the exploration of new concepts and techniques.

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Stephan Balkenhol

Untitled (Etched Silence), 2007

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Biography

Bio

Kopfsäule Mann, 2020

Fussballliebe, 2024

Kleine Kopfsäule, 1991

Kleine Kopfsäule, 1991

Femme burlesque (Burlesque Woman), 2013

Private Listing

Private Listing

Teddy, 2004

Mann mit weißem Hemd, 2017 / 2023

Relief Mann, 2010

Tanzendes Paar (rot), 2020

Tanzendes Paar (grun), 2020

Woman in white jacket, 2004

Standing Man, 2004

Köpfe (B-large), 2006

Köpfe (W-large), 2006

Köpfe (B), 2006

Köpfe (G), 2006

Köpfe (W), 2006

Kuss , 2000

Fritzlar, 2004

Male torso, 2012

Bull, 2025

Untitled (Et(...), 2007

Untitled (Pe(...), 2009

Stehender Na(...), 1999

Kniender Man(...), 2012

Laocooon, 2016

Woman in whi(...), 2004

Mann in der (...), 1993

Liegende Fra(...), 2012

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