Verschillende uitprobeersels voor ontwerpen voor Reinaert de Vos c. 1910

This is a study for designs for "Reinaert de Vos," made by Bernard Willem Wierink. It's hard to say precisely when, but it was likely during the late 19th or early 20th century. The print, made with lithography, has a deliberately rough character. We can see several motifs relating to the story – the fox himself, a crown, some floral elements. What's interesting is that Wierink doesn't seem to be aiming for a polished, final composition, but is instead exploring the possibilities of the medium, its capacity for layering and texture. Lithography is, in essence, a democratic medium. It allowed for relatively easy reproduction, meaning that images could circulate widely. In this case, the technique also allowed Wierink to experiment freely, using trial and error to arrive at a design. This kind of experimental approach, rooted in the physical properties of the medium, is something we see repeatedly when artists embrace printmaking. It blurs the lines between high art and design, and it places a premium on the process of making.