Bijeenkomst der dieren in het bos 1866 - 1939

Bernard Willem Wierink made this watercolor drawing, Bijeenkomst der dieren in het bos, which translates as 'Meeting of the Animals in the Forest' on paper at an unknown date. It’s a little faded, but the animals are still gathering in the forest under a canopy of trees, beneath the title of a book. It seems so gentle, doesn't it? I wonder what Wierink was thinking when he made it? Maybe he was an illustrator, creating illuminated manuscripts. Or perhaps he was simply imagining an encounter in his garden. It's like he's dreaming of a storybook where all the animals come together to be friends. Look at how lightly the watercolor has been applied, soft blues, greens and browns, there’s a real sense of quiet. This piece feels connected to a whole tradition of animal painting, like Franz Marc, but with its own delicate, idiosyncratic vision. Artists have always looked at each other’s work and been inspired to create new forms. This is such a sweet drawing, a beautiful reminder of how art can make you see the world in new ways.