Graanhalmen c. 1944 - 1990

Kees Stoop made this print of grain stalks, with a technique called etching, sometime in the 20th century. It’s all about the lines, right? Looking closely, you can see how the lines are clustered to give the illusion of tone, the etched lines create a kind of visual static, or soft grey areas. It is all linear but with an implied depth. The texture of the paper is also really important here, isn't it? The paper is deckle edged which gives it a rough, handmade feeling. It’s almost like the stalks are growing out of the paper itself. Stoop really understood the beauty of simple things, like a field of grain. His work reminds me a little bit of Agnes Martin, who also found endless inspiration in simple forms. Both were able to use repetition and subtle variations to create works that are both meditative and visually arresting.