Zeug met biggen 1872 - 1944

Frans Smissaert made 'Zeug met biggen' with watercolour and graphite, and, you know, I can almost see him there in the barn. Look at how the paint is washed across the paper in broad strokes, capturing the sleepy forms of the mother pig and her young ones nestled in the hay. I love how the browns and greys blend together, suggesting the earthy atmosphere of the barn. You can almost smell it! I wonder what Smissaert was thinking as he made this. Maybe he was drawn to the simple beauty of these creatures, their quiet existence away from the hustle and bustle of human life? Or maybe he was just practicing his craft, trying to capture the way light and shadow play across the pigs' bodies. Either way, there is a sense of intimacy here, as if we are getting a glimpse into a private moment in the life of these animals. It’s related to the work of other animaliers like Rosa Bonheur, who found their own unique perspective on the genre. It’s so clear that artists like Smissaert are always in conversation with each other, riffing on each other's ideas and techniques. And that’s what makes art so exciting.