Gezicht op Utrecht 1968

This is Dirkje Kuik’s, 'Gezicht op Utrecht', a print made in the Netherlands, though I don’t know when exactly. I love the layering and cross-hatching, it's almost like she's knitting with ink, building up this complex scene one tiny line at a time. Look at the columns on the right-hand side, how she uses a million tiny strokes to create the illusion of light and shadow. It's so meticulous, yet it feels spontaneous, like she's discovering the image as she goes. You can almost feel the weight of the stone, the way it's been worn down by time. I’m always curious about the tools printmakers use. It reminds me a bit of Piranesi, this idea of a crumbling, fantastical cityscape, but with a softer, more intimate touch. Kuik has a way of making the grand feel delicate, the monumental feel personal. Art like this reminds us that seeing is a process, not a destination, an ongoing conversation between the artist, the artwork, and us.