Ornamentele rand met bladeren en arend c. 1910

This Ornamental Border with Leaves and Eagle was made by Bernard Willem Wierink, likely as a study for larger work. The colour is earthy, like clay, rust, or blood, and the blocky application suggests the image was stamped, pressed, or printed onto the page. The texture of the work is defined by the evenness of the printing, which creates a sense of uniformity and precision. There's also something powerful about the way the eagle is depicted. The lines create a sense of depth and dimension, making it feel almost sculptural against the flatness of the page. You can see this same approach to pattern making in the work of Walter Crane, who also took inspiration from the Arts and Crafts movement. I like the way this piece leaves space for ambiguity and interpretation; it’s open-ended in a way that invites us to engage with it on our own terms.