Vignet met bloemen en vogels 1878 - 1940

This is a small decorative Vignet met bloemen en vogels, flowers and birds, created by Elias Voet Junior. Voet Junior lived through a time of great change in Europe as he was born in the late 19th century. The industrial revolution was transforming social structures and artistic practices. Looking at this work, we see how the older traditions of decorative arts were being adapted to new forms of printing and design. Notice how the flowers and birds are carefully arranged within the frame. On closer inspection, you can see the swords included in this piece. These elements evoke a feeling of gentility, while the swords also add an element of power. This is an emotional piece that would have been seen as conveying certain aspects of Dutch identity. We can interpret it as a reflection of the tensions between tradition and modernity that were shaping the identities of people at the turn of the century.