Vertrekkende vogel 1976

This print, "Vertrekkende vogel" (Departing Bird), probably came to life through a thoughtful layering of colour, maybe some stencils and who knows what other experiments that Harrie Gerritz dreamt up. I can imagine him hovering over a table, moving around shapes, adjusting the composition again and again. The subdued green slats in the lower half angle across the frame as if they are about to fall out, with the creamy orange bird flying away in the box above. What’s the relationship between the two? The bird seems to be escaping, not going anywhere in particular. Is this a metaphor for a person leaving? This composition is pretty pared down – just a few colours, a few shapes. It reminds me of the playfulness in work by someone like Ellsworth Kelly. I wonder if Harrie was looking at Kelly when he made this print? Anyway, that’s how artists work: we all look at each other’s stuff and steal ideas, so we can keep the conversation going!