Parelhoenders 1892 - 1931

Henri Verstijnen’s Parelhoenders is an evocative print. It is full of dramatic chiaroscuro. I imagine the artist carving away at the block, trying to capture the distinctive plumage and stately presence of these two guinea fowl. You know, printmaking is such an interesting medium. Like painting, there is a physical presence to the process. And you really get a sense of Verstijnen’s hand through his choice of marks. The density of the tiny white circles against the black of the birds’ bodies creates an amazing shimmering effect. Then, look at the negative space around the birds and how it creates a really cool depth. For me, the act of mark-making itself becomes a way of understanding the world. As artists, we're always in conversation with each other, building upon the ideas and techniques of those who came before. Each gesture is a response, an inquiry, a new way of seeing. And that’s what makes art so exciting—its constant evolution, inviting us to participate in the ongoing dialogue.