Art of Advent Day 12

By Emma Montague

Jozef Sekalski, The Cathedral in Winter, 1951, wood engraving on paper, 15 x 19.2 cm, Edinburgh.
Image courtesy of National Galleries of Scotland.

Woodblock printing has a unique way of simplifying the world to its most essential elements. Polish artist Jozef Sekalski’s (1904–1972) Christmas-themed prints of St Andrews capture an intimate vision of the town, one that feels quietly timeless. In Sekalski’s hands, the woodblock printing technique transforms the town’s familiar streets and landmarks into something more refined.

Jozef Sekalski, Gregory Place, St Andrews, date unknown, wood engraving on paper, 22.5 x 16.8 cm, Edinburgh.
Image courtesy of National Galleries of Scotland.

Typically a place of movement, filled with academics, locals, golfers, tourists, and winds rolling in from the North Sea, Sekalski renders it still, preserving the town in a reverent silence. The monochrome palette evokes the short days and long evenings of a Scottish winter, while the roughness of the carved marks mirrors the season's harsh weather.

Jozef Sekalski, An Angel (design for a Christmas Card), 1951, wood engraving on paper, 18.7 x 15.5 cm, Edinburgh.
Image courtesy of National Galleries of Scotland.

Their simplistic designs illustrate the reflective side of Christmas and the moment of pause between the years. St Andrews’ historic buildings carry symbolic weight; the churches and cathedral ruins appear like guardians of winter, standing quietly in the dark, representing centuries of winter rituals, solstice nights, gatherings, prayers spoken and abandoned, serving as a reminder of endurance.

Jozef Sekalski, The Towers of St Andrews (design for a Christmas Card), 1955-1960, wood engraving on card, 20.2 x 12.5 cm, Edinburgh.

Image courtesy of National Galleries of Scotland.

Through his prints, Sekalski presents St Andrews in a way that is both personal and universal, anchored in the town’s streets, buildings, and monuments, yet inviting the audience to reflect beyond the landscape. Sekalski perfectly captures winter in Scotland, inviting the audience to feel the quiet anticipation, wonder, and stillness that define the season.