Studies van bladeren 1913

Joseph Mendes da Costa made this print, 'Studies van bladeren', in 1913. Look at these leaves! They're like actors on a stage, each with its own personality and story. I imagine Mendes da Costa hunched over a copper plate, armed with his etching needle. What was it like to be him, scratching these lines, pushing into the metal, feeling the resistance? This isn't just a picture of leaves; it's a conversation with them. The careful cross-hatching gives them volume, the sharp lines a sense of movement, as if they're caught in a gentle breeze. See how the artist captures the delicate veins and edges? There's a kind of tenderness to it. Prints like these remind me that art isn't just about grand gestures; it's also about the quiet, intimate moments of observation and care. We are all in conversation with artists from the past. Mendes da Costa is speaking to us through these leaves, inviting us to look closer, to appreciate the small wonders of the natural world.