Gevleugelde vrouw met ouroboros om haar hoofd - Karel Petrus Cornelis de Bazel

A striking Symbolist lithograph by Dutch artist K.P.C. de Bazel, featuring a winged figure framed by the cyclical imagery of the ouroboros.

Karel Petrus Cornelis de Bazel was a Dutch architect and designer whose graphic work often explored esoteric and symbolic themes. This lithograph depicts a winged female figure, a motif frequently employed by the artist to represent spiritual or allegorical concepts. The figure is framed by an ouroboros, the ancient symbol of a serpent or dragon eating its own tail, which signifies the cyclical nature of existence and the unity of all things.

The composition is highly stylised, reflecting the influence of the Arts and Crafts movement and the geometric rigour that defined De Bazel's architectural practice. The figure stands in a frontal, hieratic pose, reminiscent of Egyptian art or early religious icons. Her wings are rendered with a decorative, rhythmic quality, creating a sense of balance and order within the frame. The use of bold, clean lines and a restricted monochrome palette focuses the viewer's attention on the symbolic geometry of the subject.

De Bazel was deeply involved in the Theosophical Society, and his artistic output often functioned as a visual language for his philosophical inquiries. The inclusion of the sword at the base of the figure, alongside the circular form of the ouroboros, suggests a narrative of duality, combining the active force of the blade with the eternal, passive cycle of the serpent. This print demonstrates the artist's ability to synthesise complex metaphysical ideas into a clear, graphic form. It is a characteristic example of the Dutch Symbolist aesthetic, where clarity of line meets a preoccupation with universal truths and spiritual archetypes.