My hospital bed 1990

This watercolour, 'My hospital bed', was made by Hubertine Heijermans on the 13th of March 1990. There's something so tender about the way Heijermans approaches her subject, it's all about washes of colour that blend and bleed into each other. You get the sense that she’s really present, observing the nuances of light and shadow and how they play across the folds of the bedding. The palette is muted, mostly blues and greys, but there are these tiny pops of red and yellow that just sing. Look closely, and you'll notice how the different layers of colour create depth. See the shadows under the blanket. The textures are so tangible that you can almost feel the crispness of the sheets against your skin. The artist has captured something so intimate and personal. The approach reminds me of the early watercolours of Emil Nolde, who also had this way of making emotional intensity with colour and light. It's a quiet, meditative piece that invites us to slow down, take a breath, and appreciate the beauty of the everyday.