Nieuwjaarswens voor 1946 van de Nederlandsche Exlibriskring 1945

Editor: This linocut print is titled "New Year's Greetings for 1946 from the Dutch Ex Libris Circle," created in 1945. There’s a sense of cautious optimism here; the destroyed brickwork framing the image suggests recent devastation, yet flowers are growing and doves are flying near a rising sun. What symbolic language is being used? Curator: Indeed. Notice how the artist uses potent visual metaphors. The ruined brickwork is evocative of the Second World War, ending just months before this print was made. But growing from this destruction, we see flowering morning glories – their heart-shaped leaves promising hope, suggesting the persistence of life. How do the doves factor into this emotional landscape? Editor: I see them now! The doves – universally understood symbols of peace – flanking a sun bursting with rays. Is the pairing intentional? Curator: Absolutely. The artist layers symbols of destruction and rebirth, darkness and light, loss and hope. The inscription, “From devastation blossoms new life,” clarifies the artist's intent. But let's not overlook the context of this being a New Year’s greeting. Knowing what you do, do you perceive a personal dimension here? Editor: Perhaps a shared sentiment amongst members of the Dutch Ex Libris Circle: A collective wish for a brighter future despite the trauma of war. Almost like a visual mantra for the new year? Curator: Precisely. Art, like memory, relies on these symbolic shorthands, reminding us of shared experiences and aspirations. Looking at it now, does the artwork say something new to you? Editor: Definitely. It's not just a simple greeting card, but a powerful emblem of resilience and hope emerging from profound darkness. The symbols coalesce to offer not just a wish for happiness but a testimony to survival. Curator: A perfect summary, underlining the potent blend of personal feeling and shared historical experience conveyed by seemingly simple images.