Compositie (Stilleven) 1916

Jacoba van Heemskerck made this abstract still life, Compositie, using graphic black ink on paper. Look at how the forms are simplified, almost like stencils. She wasn't trying to trick us into seeing real fruit in a bowl, but instead she wants us to consider art-making as a process of thinking through shapes. The stark contrast of black and white creates an intense visual experience. There's a textured surface, almost like the grain of wood, adding depth to the otherwise flat composition. Notice the jagged edges and how the white space interacts with the dark areas. My eye is drawn to the spiraling line, playful and almost childlike, cutting through the geometric shapes. Van Heemskerck's work reminds me of Hilma af Klint, both women exploring abstraction at a time when it wasn't so common. This piece shows how art is always a conversation, artists responding to each other, even across time. It's about seeing the world in new ways, embracing the multiple ways an image can be interpreted.