Hof der genietingen 1895

This print, *Hof der genietingen*—or "Court of Pleasures"—was made by Karel Petrus Cornelis de Bazel. Its stark lines and minimal shading create an ethereal, dreamlike quality. The figures, rendered in flat planes, lack depth, yet the composition evokes a powerful sense of space and symbolic weight. The woodcut presents a complex interplay of representation and abstraction. The stylized figure beneath the face possesses an almost iconic quality, reminiscent of Art Nouveau. The vertical composition is neatly structured into a symbolic hierarchy. The ornamental borders and the linear details on the figure's clothing contribute to the overall aesthetic harmony, while the subtle variations in line thickness create a dynamic visual rhythm. De Bazel masterfully engages with the tensions between form and content, inviting us to look beyond the surface and question the nature of representation itself. The viewer is left to ponder the court of pleasures, which does not offer any explicit gratification. The enduring significance of this work lies in its ability to provoke thought and inspire new ways of seeing and understanding the world around us.