Julie de Graag, a talented contemporary of M.C. Escher, is being honored this year with a special exhibition at Escher in Het Paleis, marking 100 years since her passing. Although both artists share a deep love for nature and capture it in their own distinctive ways through printmaking, their fame has diverged significantly. This exhibition brings together the rich oeuvre of Julie de Graag alongside Escher's work, offering visitors a unique opportunity to (re)discover her art.

Capturing the Essence in Simplicity

Julie de Graag (1877-1924) is known for her stylized woodcuts, where she skillfully captures the essence of plants, animals, and people with minimal detail. While Escher was just starting his artistic journey, De Graag had already developed a unique style. Her works, drawn from the collection of the Kunstmuseum Den Haag, are displayed alongside Escher’s prints and drawings in this exhibition. For many, this will be a first introduction to her impressive body of work.

Known Among Connoisseurs, Discovered by the Public

Unlike Escher, who achieved worldwide fame, Julie de Graag is primarily recognized among art connoisseurs. Despite the depth and beauty of her graphic work and its presence in major Dutch collections, she has received little attention until now. Escher in Het Paleis aims to change this by highlighting her life story and artistic contributions. This research sheds new light on both her work and Escher’s, revealing how each artist portrayed nature and the essence of life.

Vulnerability and Determination

Both De Graag and Escher experienced challenging childhoods marked by health problems, often resulting in isolation. Despite these hardships, they found their way to art. De Graag grew up in Gorinchem and later moved with her parents to The Hague, where she studied at the Royal Academy of Art. After a devastating fire in 1908 destroyed her studio and early work, she temporarily turned to painting but ultimately remained drawn to printmaking, her greatest passion.

Connected Through Printmaking and Artistic Circles

While it’s uncertain if De Graag and Escher ever met, they moved in similar artistic circles. Escher studied graphic techniques under Samuel Jessurun de Mesquita in Haarlem, whose family was friends with Julie de Graag. Their shared fascination with printmaking connects them, even without direct contact. Like Escher, De Graag often portrayed people from her surroundings, including art advisor Henk Bremmer, who played a crucial role in promoting her work among collectors.

Nature as Muse

The exhibition offers a comprehensive view of De Graag’s meticulous observations of nature. Her knowledge of flora and fauna comes to life in detailed prints, such as Two Owls (1921), where the front owl protectively guards its more anxious companion. De Graag experimented with both black-and-white and color, often working on a small scale. Escher, too, found inspiration in nature, focusing on birds, reptiles, and fish with great attention to detail.

In addition to nature, De Graag also explored more philosophical themes, such as in her print Memento Mori from 1916. The theme ‘remember to die’ reflects her own mental struggles, which were exacerbated by the traumas of World War I. Ultimately, this burden became too heavy, leading to her tragic passing on February 2, 1924.

Reappraising a Forgotten Artist

With this exhibition, Escher in Het Paleis pays tribute to Julie de Graag and her significant contributions to the art world. By showcasing her work alongside that of Escher, she finally receives the recognition she deserves. Visitors are invited to admire her art and explore her unique vision of nature and life, set in the context of her renowned contemporary’s prints.

Julie de Graag

8 november 2024 t/m 16 februari 2025

Header image: Julie de Graag, Hondenkop, houtsnede, 1920. Collectie Kunstmuseum Den Haag