Ornamentiek en vos c. 1910

This ornament with a fox by Bernard Willem Wierink was made without a date using woodcut. The limited colour palette of red and white emphasizes the graphic quality, where the design becomes the focus, inviting us to explore the relationship between form and function. The fox is centered, poised above the frame; its presence transforms the surrounding geometric ornament into a narrative. The lines are precise, almost mechanical, yet there's a handmade quality that gives the piece warmth. Notice how the texture of the wood grain subtly appears through the ink, reminding us of the artist’s process. The fox, caught mid-gaze, is so upright, and so present, that it feels like the whole artwork hinges on its being. Wierink’s contemporaries include designers like Walter Crane who were also deeply engaged with nature. Like them, Wierink embraced ambiguity, encouraging viewers to find their own stories within the image.