Doode spreeuw 1919

Johannes Frederik Engelbert ten Klooster made this print of a dead starling, sometime in the early 20th century, using linocut. It's a process where you carve into linoleum, like those old school floors, and then print from the raised surface. The bold black lines give it a raw, immediate feel. Look at how the marks build up the texture of the feathers – some are thick and blocky, others are thin and scratchy. It's not trying to be pretty; it's about the physicality of the bird, it's weight and its stillness. I love the way the legs are described – almost skeletal. It reminds me of some of the weirder, darker corners of German Expressionism. But there's also something very personal and tender about it. Think of Dürer's studies of animals and plants. This dead starling is a fleeting moment, captured with such care. It’s a reminder that art is always a conversation, a remix of ideas across time.