Geboorte van Venus 1924

This is Richard Nicolaüs Roland Holst’s 'Geboorte van Venus', made with lithography on paper. I am really drawn to the way that Holst is willing to let the qualities of the lithographic process show through, especially the way that the image breaks apart, or fragments, in areas, revealing the texture of the paper. This openness creates a sort of vulnerability, which is pretty rare in depictions of mythological scenes like the birth of Venus. The blue he uses is subtle, almost a whisper, and it’s really the dominant tones of pale gold and beige that evoke the shells and sand of the sea. Look at the way that her hair is drawn, with a few simple swirls, this is echoed in the rendering of the waves around her, which gives her a strong formal presence, as well as a psychological one. I am put in mind of Edvard Munch, perhaps, but with a much gentler, more playful spirit. Here, the viewer can decide how to interpret the image, and in doing so, we co-create its meaning.