Stilleven met gemberpot en lampionplant 1901 - 1935

Here's a still life made with etching by Wilhelmine Kist. I like to think about the artist's hand moving across the plate to create this little world. Imagine the scratches on the copper, the acid biting in to create a tonal image of light and shadow. The cross hatching is tight and delicate like a spider's web. What was Wilhelmine thinking, working away in her studio? Was she calm and collected or frantic and obsessive? The way the lines build up around the objects give them weight and presence. There’s a real sense of quiet observation, as though she was trying to really understand the gemberpot and lampionplant through touch and sight. You can see her process of trial and error. I get the sense that she was searching for something, and I think I'm searching too when I look at it. It's cool how artists speak to each other across time, inspiring and challenging each other's creativity. This little etching reminds me of the importance of slowing down and paying attention to the beauty of everyday objects.