De herderin 1894 - 1959

Gordinne made this print, De herderin, we don't know exactly when, but it is now held at the Rijksmuseum. I’m drawn to the way these scenes are presented almost like a storyboard, each with a distinct composition, but sharing this wonderfully soft, light colour palette. The colours feel very considered. Each scene is defined by the artist’s application of thin washes of colour. Areas of pale green meet with ochres, gentle reds and pinks, all combining to create a whimsical effect. Take the scene where the jester stands before three women; the way the colours bleed into one another gives an ethereal quality to the scene. The colour palette and narrative feel very close to the work of Paula Rego to me. Ultimately, the piece resists one single narrative reading, offering many windows of interpretation, a reminder that art is always an ongoing conversation.