Duits renaissancistisch ornament met engelen en cartouche c. 1890 - 1922

Johanna van de Kamer made this ornament with angels and cartouche in the style of the German Renaissance, but we don't know exactly when or with what implement. Look at how she renders all the detail. The line work is so dense, especially around the cherubic forms. It’s almost like she’s sculpting with ink. The stark contrast makes the figures pop, giving them a playful weight. My eye keeps getting drawn to the cherub on the left. His pose is so casual, almost defiant. You can see how she uses hatching to give shape to the angel's flesh. There’s a real tactile quality to the mark-making. This piece reminds me of the drawings of Francisco Goya. Both artists share an interest in capturing the grotesque and the beautiful in the same frame. It’s this ambiguity that makes the work so compelling. It shows how art can be both a reflection and a distortion of the world around us.