Birthe Janssens

Lines of Living

Belgian illustrator Birthe Janssens creates expressive, analogue works that blend spontaneity with storytelling. Now based in Antwerp, she draws from memories, second-hand books and the quiet details of daily life – transforming birds, flowers and everyday objects into layered compositions with a tactile, handmade quality.

“My illustrations often begin in the pages of my sketchbook – observations made while travelling or walking through a market, later reimagined in new forms.”

Working primarily with block printing inks, pastel, gouache and coloured pencil, Birthe embraces the rawness of traditional printmaking. Her lines carry a loose, intuitive rhythm, while textured layers of colour add depth without distraction. Mistakes are left visible – a deliberate choice that reveals the process and lends her work a sense of immediacy and character.

Prints in Motion

Birthe’s motifs draw from nature and nostalgia, expressed with gentle simplicity and inspired by personal references: vintage flower catalogues, a vintage ornithology book passed down from her grandfather, second-hand treasures found at flea markets. There’s a sense of openness in her approach – a desire to let the material lead, and to keep the final image alive with energy.

Alongside her personal practice, Birthe teaches art classes for children and adults, while continuing to explore new materials and methods of making – including a recent interest in ceramics. She is particularly inspired by Picasso’s ceramic works and the playful, abstract forms of Hans and Sophie Taeuber-Arp. Whether on paper or in clay, her pieces invite you to look closely and follow the lines back to their origin.