Sluierstaart 1892 - 1931

Henri Verstijnen made this print, 'Sluierstaart', and you can see the trace of the artist's hand in the inky blue background. I imagine him layering the color bit by bit to build up the image. I wonder if Verstijnen kept goldfish himself, watching their frilly tails and curious faces. The fish looks so delicate in this dark pond, almost like a memory, and I wonder if that's how he saw it too. The colors are built up with layers of ink, giving the fish a shimmering, other-worldly presence. It makes me think of other artists like Odilon Redon, who also created a dream world in his art. Verstijnen and Redon share a vision, and maybe they were even looking at each other's work. Each artist adds their own voice to the conversation, dreaming up images that speak to us. They remind us that painting isn't about perfect representation. It’s a feeling.