De kameel 1894 - 1959

This lithograph of a camel – ‘De kameel’ - by Gordinne shows a camel being led across a sandy landscape by its handler. The image has been rendered in warm earthy browns, cool greens and blues. You know, when I look at this, I think of all the animal paintings throughout history. But what must it have been like to create this? I imagine Gordinne choosing to create a simple, pared-back backdrop to emphasize the camel's noble form. I like to think the artist enjoyed using lithography to capture the textures of the creature’s fur. This has then been lightly daubed with watercolour. The artist contrasts the massive animal with the slight human figure, as if they are celebrating the idea of humans living in harmony with nature. Artists are in an ongoing conversation and exchange of ideas across time, inspiring one another’s creativity. Ultimately, art embraces ambiguity and uncertainty, allowing for multiple interpretations.