Vaas met bloemen 1888 - 1937

Curator: This bold, black-and-white print strikes me immediately with its stark contrasts and simplified forms. It's rather dramatic, wouldn’t you say? Editor: It certainly possesses an arresting quality. This is "Vaas met bloemen," or "Vase with Flowers" by Cornelia Vreede, likely created sometime between 1888 and 1937. We believe it's a linocut print, showcasing elements of the Art Nouveau style. Curator: Linocut explains the deliberate, almost chunky quality of the lines. I see how Vreede uses positive and negative space to define the shapes of the flowers and the vase itself. Notice how the black background throws the stylized white amaryllis forward? Editor: Precisely! The linocut print medium itself holds significant weight here. We see the artist's labor—the physical carving and printing. Consider how this process democratizes art production, moving away from traditional painting hierarchies. Curator: I agree the texture becomes crucial. Also look how that dark background emphasizes the elegant shapes of those petals. The composition, almost symmetrical, enhances that floral power. Editor: And the choice of a common domestic subject is also important. Flowers are traditionally seen as decorative, but Vreede elevates them by manipulating the linocut medium and making them somewhat aggressive through size and strong tonal contrast. Is she celebrating feminine creativity or challenging domestic norms of artistic production? Curator: Interesting question. The overall impact, to me, speaks more about the raw beauty inherent in natural forms; almost a celebration. Regardless, there is also a stillness achieved through stark lines. Editor: Ultimately, it brings us back to the artist's process, right? Vreede’s choices as a printmaker reveal considerations about labor, production, and the social value assigned to both craft and “high” art. Curator: I'd like to return to visit how its inherent geometry generates emotions too. Editor: An invitation to consider artistic output and reception as social practices… intriguing to mull on for longer.