Graskist 1975

Harrie Gerritz made this print, ‘Graskist,’ which translates as grass box, using etching. I imagine Gerritz hunched over a metal plate, carefully drawing with a sharp needle. The image, a box filled with grass, emerges from a network of fine lines, almost vibrating with a life of its own. I wonder, was this box a common sight in Gerritz's surroundings? Perhaps it was a familiar object in his garden or studio, or a commentary on the way that nature can become controlled. The grass inside spills out, unruly against the box's rigid form. The open door asks a question: what is kept inside? What is let out? As artists, we’re all trying to figure things out, and often, inspiration comes from unexpected corners. We notice how forms repeat and reverberate across time. Gerritz, through his delicate lines, reminds us that even the simplest objects can hold complexity and meaning if you create a space for them.