"doppel: AB" by Hannes Postma 1968
This 1968 artwork by Dutch artist Hannes Postma is a signed and dated lithograph on Büttenpapier (handmade paper). The composition is divided into two distinct sections, marked "A" and "B", creating a sense of narrative or comparison between the two parts. Both sections depict abstracted landscapes featuring repetitive elements like angular shapes and stylized plants or symbols that create a rhythmic pattern across the paper. The two areas, though connected visually, have a notable separation, which may suggest an exploration of spatial or temporal duality.
Rendered in black and white, Postma’s minimalist yet intricate style is evident in the clean lines and stark contrasts. The use of geometric forms combined with organic textures highlights his interest in both surrealist and architectural tendencies, a hallmark of his later work. This piece shows his fascination with spatial experimentation and abstract symbolism, characteristic of his evolving style in the late 1960s.
The presence of abstract human-like figures, some of which appear as though they are floating or detached from the landscape, introduces a surreal, dreamlike quality, aligning Postma's work with other movements of the time like CoBrA and Art Brut, though he never fully aligned himself with those groups. His signature at the bottom, coupled with the use of Büttenpapier, elevates the work, imbuing it with both a tactile quality and a sense of exclusivity typical of his print editions during this period.