Bloemstengels c. 1970

Kees Stoop made this print, "Bloemstengels", using etching, which is all about lines, so it’s cool to see how he creates depth with them. The whole thing feels so tactile, doesn't it? The way the ink sits on the paper, slightly raised, you just want to run your fingers over it. See how the marks are so dense in the foreground, almost like a thicket, and then they thin out toward the top right, giving the illusion of light. Look closely at the main flower stems, notice how each stroke is carefully placed to define their texture and form. It’s like Stoop is inviting us into his own private botanical world. This reminds me a little bit of Piranesi's architectural prints – that same sense of detail and imagination. Art is all about seeing what others don’t, and Stoop definitely had a unique way of looking at the garden.