Trappaalbekroning van ebbenhout met o.a. vier paar muizen versierd 1920

This ebony sculpture, or "Trappaalbekroning" by Lambertus Zijl, features what looks like a celestial globe, resting on a base ornamented with little mice, made by carving, which is a total process, right? The surface texture is amazing – you can really see the marks left by the tools. Look closely at that sphere; it’s not smooth, it's faceted, like a gemstone, which gives a real sense of the artist's hand, almost like a record of each decision. It's dark, but not flat. Light catches on those carved edges, so it's always changing. This feels like it's in conversation with the work of Ernst Barlach, who also used wood to create expressive forms. But while Barlach goes for anguish, this feels more playful. It's like Zijl is winking at us, reminding us that art can be serious and a little bit absurd at the same time.