Vier figuren (In Licht en Waarheid) - Mathieu Lauweriks

A symbolic woodcut by Mathieu Lauweriks from 1895, featuring a central figure on a globe surrounded by geometric motifs and mystical iconography.

This woodcut by the Dutch architect and designer Mathieu Lauweriks, dated 16 February 1895, reflects the esoteric and spiritual interests prevalent in late nineteenth-century European art. The composition, titled 'In Licht en Waarheid' (In Light and Truth), presents a highly structured, symbolic scene. A central, crowned figure stands upon a globe, holding a book inscribed with the word 'IDE-EV'. This figure is flanked by a standing woman and a man in contemporary dress, while an angelic presence occupies the upper right quadrant. The background is filled with a dense, repetitive pattern of small crosses, creating a flattened, decorative space that pushes the figures to the foreground.

Lauweriks was deeply involved in the Theosophical movement, and his work often incorporates geometric rigour and mystical iconography. The use of the woodcut medium allows for sharp, high-contrast lines, which suit the graphic nature of his design. The figures are rendered with a deliberate lack of naturalistic depth, favouring a schematic, almost hieratic arrangement that prioritises symbolic meaning over anatomical realism. The inclusion of the hexagram and the heart motif further suggests a preoccupation with universal truths and spiritual enlightenment, themes that were common among artists associated with the Dutch avant-garde of the 1890s.

This print demonstrates the artist's interest in the relationship between architecture, geometry, and spiritual philosophy. By stripping away unnecessary detail, Lauweriks creates a visual language that functions as a diagram of metaphysical concepts. The work remains a clear example of the graphic output of the period, where the woodcut was reclaimed as a vehicle for personal and philosophical expression, moving away from its traditional role as a purely illustrative tool.