Bloemstengels c. 1970

Kees Stoop made this print, Bloemstengels, using etching and possibly some engraving to achieve the level of detail we see. I can imagine Stoop hunched over the metal plate, using fine tools to create a dense forest of lines. Look at how the marks vary – some are deep and bold, others so light they barely kiss the surface, creating a shimmering effect. Each line feels deliberate, a testament to Stoop's concentration and skill. There’s something almost obsessive about the level of detail here; maybe Stoop got lost in the act of making, each stroke leading to the next in a kind of meditative process. The way the light filters through the dense foliage gives the scene a dreamlike quality. It reminds me a little of Piranesi’s architectural prints, but instead of buildings, we have the organic chaos of nature. Stoop probably looked at other printmakers too. Artists are always in conversation with each other, aren't they? Looking and learning, pushing and pulling. It’s this constant exchange that keeps art alive.