Vignet met distel 1884 - 1952

Reinier Willem Petrus de Vries made this Vignet met distel with some kind of pen or stylus. It's all about line, that's for sure! I get a kick out of how line quality alone can be so descriptive. Look at the way the oval that holds the composition together is drawn - it's not perfect, and the line wiggles a bit as it moves, like a tightrope walker. Then, shooting out of that are these bristly, spiky forms, drawn with short, quick marks. It's as if the artist is exploring how much information they can pack into the fewest possible marks. I’m reminded of other artists obsessed with plants, like Hilma af Klint, who was thinking about the hidden energies of nature, although this piece feels more immediate, even a bit playful. Art's this amazing conversation across time, right? It's never about one right answer, but about keeping the questions alive.