Drie reliëfs met organische elementen, gebeeldhouwd door Jean Herman before 1880

This print features three reliefs with organic elements, sculpted by Jean Herman and captured by Charles Claesen. The composition immediately draws us in with its careful arrangement of forms, each relief a study in texture and light. The two rectangular reliefs on the left display a linear progression, emphasizing verticality through stylized leaves and floral arrangements. These vertical elements offer a structured contrast to the circular relief on the right, which showcases a dense, almost baroque, layering of organic motifs. The circular form disrupts the rigidity of the frame, challenging the traditional boundaries of relief sculpture. Claesen’s print captures not just the reliefs themselves, but also their interplay with shadow, highlighting the dimensionality of Herman’s work. This emphasis on form and structure invites us to consider how these elements function within the broader context of decorative arts, and how they engage with ideas of nature and artifice.