Vignet met libellen 1874 - 1932

Mathieu Lauweriks made this Vignet met libellen with printmaking, and you can feel the hand of the artist in the graphic quality of the marks, a graphic quality I also try to incorporate in my paintings. I love how the texture of the dragonfly’s wings contrast with the solid lines of the body, creating a play between transparency and opacity. The symmetry is almost classical, but has enough variation to keep it lively. Take a look at the tiny marks at the end of the wings. These small gestures show how Lauweriks paid attention to detail. The dragonfly reminds me of Ernst Haeckel’s biological illustrations - both were fascinated with symmetry and nature, and both embrace a certain ambiguity in how they represent the world. Art isn’t about answers, it’s about asking questions.