Ornamentele rand met wapenschilden met dieren c. 1910

This ornamental border with coats of arms and animals was made by Bernard Willem Wierink. I imagine Wierink carefully carving away at the block, bit by bit, to create the animals and heraldic devices we see here in sienna against the ground. The process of printmaking—the layering of images and colors, and the possibility for endless variation. I can almost feel the pressure of his hand as he presses the block onto the paper, transferring the image with precision and care. Wierink’s choice of color creates a sense of warmth, grounding the border in a historical context while infusing it with a personal touch. And his placement of crowns and shields and the almost playful rendering of the animals, makes me think he had a sense of humor. Looking at this little print, I’m reminded how we artists are always in conversation with each other across time, borrowing and riffing and making it new.