Grasshopper (1918 CE)

The artwork “Sprinkhaan” or in English, Grasshopper, (1918) by Julie de Graag is a striking print depicting a stylized grasshopper. Rendered in black and green ink, this piece reflects de Graag’s fascination with natural subjects, particularly insects, and embodies her characteristic precise style. Its simplicity and intricate details invite the viewer to closely observe both the subject and the technique.
 
Sprinkhaan was created in 1918 by Dutch printmaker Julie de Graag, an artist associated with the Art Nouveau movement. Known for her depictions of nature, de Graag’s work often featured plants and insects, emphasizing their form and texture. This print, produced during the final years of her career, is typical of her interest in natural subjects and her use of woodcut techniques. The artwork was donated to the Rijksmuseum in 1935 by G.A. de Graag, adding historical significance to the piece as part of a major Dutch collection.
 
Her detailed and focused renderings of nature, particularly insects, were thought to be a meditative practice that provided solace during periods of difficulty. This particular depiction of a grasshopper exemplifies her ability to translate nature’s fragility into artistic expression.
 
Sprinkhaan holds significance in the context of early 20th-century Dutch printmaking and the broader Art Nouveau movement. De Graag’s focus on natural subjects, like the grasshopper, reflects the movement’s reverence for organic forms and the natural world. This piece not only showcases her mastery of the woodcut technique but also symbolizes the artist’s sensitivity to the fragility and beauty of life, which resonates in her broader body of work.
 
The piece is a woodcut print on paper, created using two blocks to produce black and green ink. The dimensions of this version of “Sprinkhaan” are 12.4 cm by 12.4 cm (4.88 inches by 4.88 inches). Other versions of Sprinkhaan exist, including a smaller print measuring 7.7 cm by 8.7 cm (3.03 inches by 3.43 inches) and a drawing of the subject, done in ink, pencil, chalk, and deck paint.
 
The artwork was gifted to the Rijksmuseum in 1935 by G.A. de Graag, enriching the museum’s collection of early 20th-century Dutch prints. Since then, it has been housed at the Rijksmuseum, contributing to the institution’s reputation as a significant repository of Dutch artistic heritage.