De oude waringin 1916

Wijnand Otto Jan Nieuwenkamp made this graphic work of the old Waringin tree using printing ink on paper. The image is built up from lots of tiny little strokes, see how they give the impression of light filtering through the leaves? I love the texture he's created. If you look closely at the trunks of the trees, you can see all these different patterns and markings, almost like the skin of an elephant. The artist's process is really on show here. You can almost feel him making each mark, deciding where to add more ink, and where to leave the paper bare. It's like he's not just depicting a tree, but also the experience of being there, surrounded by its ancient presence. It reminds me a bit of Piranesi and his architectural fantasies. Both artists invite us into these imaginary worlds. Ultimately, art isn't about answers, but about opening up possibilities for seeing and feeling things in new ways.