Reiger met drie apen 1905

Theo van Hoytema made this print called ‘Reiger met drie apen’—that’s ‘Heron with three monkeys’—using etching and aquatint, a printmaking process that allows for a range of tonal effects, like watercolor. Just look at the way the image shimmers into view from the paper. It's mostly warm shades of brown and cream, the monkeys look mischievous, and the heron seems wise, standing on one leg. I can feel van Hoytema feeling his way through the composition, trying this and that. What was he thinking, I wonder? I’m reminded of Paula Rego’s work, the way she uses animals to probe the human psyche. The heron standing over the monkeys seems very symbolic, like she is keeping a watchful eye. It's like they're all stuck in some kind of earthy amber. Painting is an ongoing conversation, and Hoytema has a place in the mix. These artists are connected through time. Painting is embodied expression. It's all about ambiguity!