Hollandse ooievaar 1876 - 1951

Theo Nieuwenhuis made this line drawing of a stork on paper, but we don’t know exactly when. I can imagine Theo, quickly trying to capture the essence of the bird's posture. The stork's body is described with such freedom and clarity. Look at that beak, it is heavy with ink, like he is trying to draw with three dimensions. There is also the interesting choice to darken the wing—the turn of the artist’s hand and the angle of the crayon against the page give it weight. It’s like he’s making the drawing, but the drawing is also making him. Drawing is a philosophical, playful, and reflective process, much like painting. And the artists are always in conversation. We look at drawings like this and steal ideas, change them, and make them our own. That’s what it’s all about.