Hagedis 1887 - 1924

Julie de Graag made this image of a lizard, 'Hagedis', with brush and ink on paper. I really love the tonal washes, the delicate greys. I can imagine her, perhaps in a studio, watching the lizard as it sits for her—or perhaps she’s working from memory. She may have started with very light washes, almost transparent, then gradually built up the darker areas to define the form. The tail is particularly good—this beautiful, fluid, S-curve. What I find interesting is the slightly surreal angle of the lizard, clinging to what looks like a ceiling—a little like my own paintings, where things don't quite line up or make logical sense. De Graag’s lizard reminds me that painting is as much about playful exploration and creative interpretation as it is about accurate representation.