Fotoreproductie van een getekend wapen van een lid van de familie Bronckhorst-Batenburg, mogelijk Johan van Bronckhorst-Batenburg before 1908

This photogravure of a drawn coat of arms, possibly belonging to Johan van Bronckhorst-Batenburg, was made by Benjamin Charlé. It's a photographic reproduction of a drawing, but there’s something about that soft, sepia tone that pulls me in. Look at the two lions, one on either side, and their simple, almost cartoonish, lines. This simplicity emphasizes the process of its making, the hand of the artist sketching out these symbols. The hatching effect on the helmets crest, the different crossed lines that evoke depth and texture, feels both controlled and spontaneous. The color palette is limited, almost monochromatic, which highlights the textures. The gravure surface has its own character, like a veil over the heraldic symbols. It reminds me of the work of Sigmar Polke, who uses photographic processes and found imagery in his paintings. Both artists embrace the accidental, the imperfect, and the multiple layers of meaning that arise when images are reproduced and recontextualized. It's a reminder that art isn't about fixed answers, but about the ongoing conversation and exchange of ideas.