Artwork
Endpaper with Animals
Endpaper with Animals is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Johann Maisch. It dates from 1824 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Johann Maisch’s 1824 woodcut, titled Endpaper with Animals, presents a series of animal figures arranged within individual squares. Each creature—ranging from tiger and deer to rhinoceros—is rendered in a uniform white tone against a pale lavender background, creating a restrained yet orderly composition.
Subject & Meaning
The print showcases a variety of fauna, each isolated in its own frame, suggesting a cataloguing impulse rather than narrative storytelling. By placing the animals side by side, Maisch emphasizes their distinct forms while inviting comparison of their silhouettes and postures, from standing to reclining.
Technique & Style
Executed as a woodcut, the image was later restruck in silver ink on lavender paper, giving the figures a luminous, metallic quality. The line work is uncomplicated, relying on bold outlines and minimal shading, characteristic of early nineteenth‑century graphic design that favored clarity over ornament.
History & Provenance
Created in 1824, the piece reflects the period’s interest in natural illustration and decorative book elements. As a restrike, it indicates that the original matrix was reused for later editions, a common practice for popular prints of the era. The work remains attributed to the German printmaker Johann Maisch.
Artist & collection
