Prent voor mr. D.U. Stikker, 1942 1913 - 1942

This is Jan Sirks’ print for Mr. D.U. Stikker, made in 1942, and it really grabs me. It’s an etching of a ship, but it's all about the delicate dance of lines. The texture of the piece is incredible, like you could almost feel the old wood of the ship and the movement of the water just by looking at it. The lines build up to create shadows, giving a real weight to the ship that contrasts with the lightness of the sky. It is very linear. I keep coming back to the way the rigging is depicted; each line seems so intentional, so precise. It’s almost like a spider web, connecting everything together, and it reminds me how art itself is all about connections. Like this work connects to other etchings by Rembrandt. Art is always an ongoing conversation. It's rarely the final word on anything.