Venetiaanse bloem- en bladornamenten 1877 - 1880

Jac van Looij rendered these Venetian floral and foliate ornaments with graphite. At first glance, the leaves and flowers sketched here seem like simple studies of natural forms, yet, they echo a much older visual language. The curling acanthus leaves, for example, have roots stretching back to ancient Greece, adorning Corinthian capitals and friezes. They symbolize endurance and rebirth, a visual echo of nature’s resilience. Similar motifs have resurfaced throughout history. Note the stylized honeysuckle blossoms, resembling palmettes. These motifs migrated across cultures, from Egyptian friezes to Renaissance borders. The subtle undulations of the lines are reminiscent of the 'horror vacui', the fear of empty space, prompting associations with rich patterns found in many cultures. These botanical forms suggest a connection to deeper, more primal associations, evoking cyclical patterns of growth, decay, and regeneration. From ancient temples to modern designs, these forms continue to bloom in our collective visual memory.