Kroon c. 1910

Bernard Willem Wierink's "Kroon" is a small print, likely made with an etching or engraving, that feels both delicate and declarative. The black lines dance across the creamy paper, forming a crown that’s simple yet regal. I love how the artist uses line weight to suggest form. The balls atop the crown's spikes are solid and weighty, while the connecting lines are thin and tentative, like they might just float away. Look at the base of the crown, a band of decorative curls and crosses; each tiny mark feels deliberate, building texture. It’s this kind of close attention to detail that reminds me of Albrect Durer's prints, though Wierink’s has a playful, almost whimsical quality. The crown sits there, self-contained, a little world of its own. It makes you think about power, authority, and the stories we tell ourselves about who gets to wear the crown. But ultimately, it's just lines on paper, a testament to the power of art to conjure something from almost nothing.