Artis Zoo 1940

Vintage book illustrations, acrylic crystals on canvas

96 x 123cm

SOLD

A collection of original, vintage Dutch book illustrations and acrylic crystals arranged on painted canvas with a cut three-dimensional element. The work is mounted behind glass within in a dark brown, wooden frame.

The work features hand-drawn illustrations that have been cut from 1940 reference books illustrating some of the animals that were residing in Amsterdam’s Artis Zoo at the time.

The repeated images have been arranged in rows with the animals facing in the same direction, either left or right, providing a sense of movement from a distance.

Sunken rectangular centres leave behind raised frames which mirror the frame of the artwork itself, and the addition of Swarovski crystals in the corners add a contemporary element.