Bloeiende planten 1917

Julie de Graag made this woodcut, *Bloeiende planten*, which translates to "Flowering Plants," sometime in the early 20th century. I really love how she transforms the ordinary into something so striking and graphic. What was she thinking, when she made it? I like to think of the artist carefully carving away at the woodblock, each cut deliberate yet intuitive, revealing the forms of flowers and delicate stems. The high contrast between the black ink and the paper gives the image a boldness, while the intricate details—the tiny dots on the stems and the delicate lines of the petals—show a deep attention to the natural world. De Graag's work reminds me a bit of other early modern artists who were also drawn to the simple beauty of nature. It feels like she's having a conversation with them, maybe a silent nod to their shared love for capturing the essence of the everyday. It's a reminder that artists are always looking, always learning from each other, building on what came before, and adding their own unique voice to the mix.