Hagedis op een boomstam 1892 - 1951

Janus de Winter made this print, "Lizard on a Log," using linoleum, a common floor covering, to bring an everyday sensibility to the realm of art. The printmaking process begins with the artist carving a design into the linoleum, then inking the surface and pressing it onto paper. The stark contrast between black and white in this print speaks to the directness of this method. Look closely, and you can see the marks left by the cutting tools, giving texture to the leaves and the lizard's scales. The choice of linoleum, rather than a more traditional material like wood or metal, suggests a desire to democratize art-making, utilizing materials that were readily available and affordable. In this way, de Winter elevates the ordinary, inviting us to reconsider the value and potential of everyday materials in artistic expression. It reminds us that art can be found, and made, in the most unexpected places.