Waringin met boomhut in het zuiden van Bali 1908 - 1909

This is a print by Wijnand Otto Jan Nieuwenkamp, of a Waringin tree with a treehouse in southern Bali. Just imagine the artist with his tools, carefully carving out the lines to create this image. The density of marks is incredible! Nieuwenkamp really took the time to carve and render the texture of the roots, and the density of the tree itself, which is so full of leaves, roots, and branches that it feels like a whole world. And then there’s a ladder leading up to a treehouse. As a painter, I know the pleasure of getting lost in detail, finding a kind of meditative space to express what I see and feel. There is a sense of care and attentiveness in the details that reminds me of other artists who take the time to really look at the world and represent what they see. This print invites us to slow down and appreciate the richness and complexity of nature. The image reminds us that all artists stand on the shoulders of giants, constantly learning from and building upon the work of those who came before.