Plant met bloem 1892 - 1951

Janus de Winter made this print of a flowering plant at some point in his life using a relief printing technique. Looking at it, I imagine De Winter relishing the stark contrast of black ink against the white paper. The heavy outline gives the composition a graphic quality. I see him using a tool to carve away at a block, carefully considering each line and shape, and then printing it. I wonder if he saw this as a study in contrasts: the rigid leaves versus the delicate bloom, the dense textures against the blank space. How does one capture the essence of nature through such a deliberate medium? Did he see the printmaking process as a way to distill and refine his observations? This print resonates with other artists, like Emil Nolde, who found something similar in his woodcuts. What a conversation they must be having.