Twee paddenstoelen 1887 - 1924

These two mushrooms were printed by Julie de Graag, using brown ink on paper. Look how the dark ink bleeds softly, creating a sense of depth around the mushrooms. I imagine Julie carefully carving away at the block, revealing the forms bit by bit. Maybe she found these mushrooms on a walk and was struck by their strange beauty. The white stripes on the caps are so graphic, like little exclamation points. What was she thinking as she carved those lines? Was it a meditation? A way of connecting with the natural world? It reminds me of other printmakers who found poetry in the everyday, like Félix Vallotton, but Julie brings a uniquely tender touch. Artists are always in conversation, borrowing, and riffing off each other's ideas. Each mark is a record of a decision, a feeling, a moment in time. The result is open and ambiguous; the mushrooms are there, but they're also something more.