Libel 1881 - 1936

Lucie van Dam van Isselt made this etching, called Libel, and look at the delicate lines tracing the form of a dragonfly. Imagine the artist peering closely, squinting, at the insect, trying to capture its fragile, temporary beauty. I can almost feel the sharp point of the etching needle as it scratches into the metal plate. See how the network of lines creates light and shadow, giving depth to the dragonfly’s wings and body. It's like she’s trying to understand something about nature, about life, through this close observation. The dragonfly sits still, posed like a model. I wonder what other artists she looked at. Did she know Karl Blossfeldt's photographs, or the meticulous botanical drawings of Ernst Haeckel? Artists are always in conversation, borrowing and transforming ideas across time. It's a beautiful, ongoing exchange.