Vlinder en vlammen 1895

Mathieu Lauweriks made this print, "Vlinder en vlammen," using the method of woodcut. This is a relief printing technique, where the artist carves away areas of a wood block, leaving the design to be inked and printed. Here, the linear qualities inherent in woodcut are really emphasized. The entire image is built from parallel lines and geometric shapes. The butterfly’s wings, the flames above, and the stylized room below, all emerge from Lauweriks's controlled cutting into the block. The texture of the wood itself also plays a big part; you can see the grain coming through in the printed areas, adding another layer of visual interest. Woodcut is an old technique, long used for both artistic and commercial purposes. Lauweriks was likely drawn to its graphic directness, and the way it reduces an image to its essential form. This print bridges fine art and craft, reminding us that all making is a form of thinking.