A striking Dutch Symbolist woodcut by Karel Petrus Cornelis de Bazel, featuring stylised figures and geometric ornamentation.

Karel Petrus Cornelis de Bazel was a Dutch architect and designer whose graphic work reflects the stylistic preoccupations of the late nineteenth century. This woodcut, titled Geschiedenissen van gezag, demonstrates his interest in formalised, symbolic imagery. The composition features three figures arranged in a rigid, frontal manner, typical of the period's move away from naturalism toward a more decorative, conceptual approach.

The central figure stands between an older, bearded man and a veiled woman, their hands meeting in a gesture that suggests a formal or ritualistic exchange. Two birds, rendered in a stylised, flattened manner, flank the head of the central figure, their forms merging with the decorative background patterns. De Bazel employs a high-contrast aesthetic, using solid black areas against the cream-coloured paper to define the figures and their garments. The clothing is adorned with geometric motifs, including triangles and repeating linear patterns, which echo the influence of the Arts and Crafts movement and the broader European interest in non-Western art forms.

De Bazel was deeply involved in the Theosophical Society, and his work often contains esoteric or allegorical themes. The stark, graphic quality of this print is characteristic of his approach to book illustration and graphic design, where clarity of form and symbolic weight take precedence over atmospheric perspective. The borders of the image are framed by a repeating geometric frieze, further emphasising the controlled, ornamental nature of the design. This piece offers a clear view into the Dutch Symbolist aesthetic, where the artist sought to communicate ideas through simplified, archetypal forms rather than direct representation. The print remains a representative example of the graphic output of a designer who sought to unify architecture, furniture, and the printed page under a single, coherent vision.