Vignet met ibissen 1897 - 1935

Mathieu Lauweriks made this block print design of Ibises at an unknown date. It’s so small, like a little gem. I'm imagining Lauweriks, bent over his worktable, meticulously carving away at the block, each line a decisive act of reduction. There are these mirror-image birds, maybe ibises, maybe not, flanking a central form, like a bizarre beastie with curious eyes. The black ink oozes out of this design, each mark a testament to the artist’s hand. The texture looks smooth, almost polished, as if he wanted to achieve perfection. It's really got the feel of something ancient, Egyptian even. Lauweriks plays with symmetry and asymmetry to create something that feels both ornamental and unsettling. It's an invitation to look closer, to get lost in the details, and to see how artists build on each other's ideas to keep art evolving and alive.