Figuur met regalia en steekwapens - Karel Petrus Cornelis de Bazel

A striking Art Nouveau lithograph by Karel Petrus Cornelis de Bazel, featuring a central figure surrounded by symbolic regalia and weapons.

This lithograph by Karel Petrus Cornelis de Bazel displays the characteristic linear precision associated with the Dutch Art Nouveau movement. De Bazel, a versatile architect and designer, often employed a geometric approach to his graphic work. The composition features a central, frontal figure wearing a helmet adorned with a sunburst motif. The figure is flanked by symbolic objects: on the left, a collection of regalia including a crozier and a sword, and on the right, a series of clenched fists holding daggers.

The work relies on a stark contrast between black ink and the paper ground. The lines are clean and deliberate, reflecting the artist's background in architectural drafting. The figure's expression is stoic, with hands raised in a gesture that suggests ritual or authority. The flowing, wave-like forms at the base of the image provide a rhythmic counterpoint to the rigid, vertical alignment of the weapons and the radiating lines of the helmet.

De Bazel was a member of the Theosophical Society, and his work frequently incorporates esoteric or symbolic imagery. This piece is no exception, as it balances heraldic elements with a sense of mystery. The arrangement of the objects is highly ordered, typical of the artist's preference for symmetry and structural clarity. The print demonstrates a fusion of historical motifs with a modern, graphic sensibility. It is a clear example of the turn-of-the-century interest in decorative symbolism, where the image functions as a visual language of power and spiritual weight. The absence of shading forces the viewer to focus on the silhouette and the arrangement of the symbolic components, creating a graphic impact that remains effective in a contemporary setting.