Drie orchideeën 1876 - 1951

Theo Nieuwenhuis made this print of three orchids, we don’t know exactly when, but he used etching and aquatint. There’s a real sense of the hand here, you can imagine the artist carefully building up the image bit by bit, mark by mark. It's like he’s feeling his way into the forms. The dark background is almost velvety, created with these tiny, soft marks. Then the orchids themselves – they emerge from the darkness, delicate and strange. Look at the petals of the orchid on the right. See how the light catches the edge, and the subtle variations in tone that create a sense of depth. Nieuwenhuis really understood how to make a flat surface feel three-dimensional. This print reminds me a bit of Odilon Redon's dreamlike drawings. It's not just about representing the flowers, it’s about creating a mood, a feeling. And like all good art, it leaves plenty of room for your own imagination to wander.