Vrouw naast hoofd met meerdere gezichten - Karel Petrus Cornelis de Bazel

A striking Symbolist etching by Karel Petrus Cornelis de Bazel, featuring a poised female figure alongside a mysterious, multi-faced crowned head.

This etching by Karel Petrus Cornelis de Bazel displays the distinct stylistic leanings of the Dutch Symbolist movement during the late nineteenth century. De Bazel, known for his architectural work and decorative designs, here explores a surreal, allegorical subject. The composition features a standing female figure, rendered with elongated proportions and a sweeping, fan-like skirt that occupies much of the pictorial space. Her posture is poised, with one hand raised to her brow as if scanning the horizon.

Beside her sits a large, crowned head possessing multiple faces, each displaying a different grimace or expression. This motif suggests a preoccupation with the duality of human nature or the weight of psychological burdens. The artist employs a high degree of stylisation, favouring clear, graphic lines over naturalistic shading. The swords protruding from the crown add a layer of martial or heraldic symbolism, further distancing the work from realism and pushing it into the realm of the esoteric. The framing of the image, with its heavy border, reinforces the sense of a contained, symbolic narrative.

De Bazel was a member of the Theosophical Society, and his work often reflects a search for universal truths through geometric order and mystical imagery. This print is a clear example of his ability to synthesise decorative arts with philosophical inquiry. The clean, precise line work reflects his training as an architect, while the subject matter aligns with the broader European interest in the subconscious and the occult during the fin de siècle period. The print remains a compelling study of form and narrative ambiguity, stripped of unnecessary detail to focus on the interplay between the human figure and the grotesque, multi-faceted head.