Advertentie van Karel de Bazel en Mathieu Lauweriks 1896 - 1935

This is an advertisement by Mathieu Lauweriks, probably printed with a woodblock. It’s all blacks and whites, sharp and graphic. The letters feel cut, in a similar way to how you feel when you’re in the studio and you begin with a clear idea, but the material has its way of changing things. The text is set in the middle and surrounded by these highly ornamental shapes, like serpents or plants. If you look up close, you can see the texture and the grain of the woodblock coming through, but it is also softened by the choice of an off-white, creamy paper. I love the way the artist uses abstraction to get your attention, and makes you want to get close to the work. It feels similar to the work of Hilma af Klint in its use of symbols and spiritual themes. Ultimately, though, the beauty of art is in its openness—it invites us to bring our own experiences and interpretations.