A pigeon 1993

Alfred Freddy Krupa made this watercolor painting of a pigeon with just a few dark strokes on a pale, wet surface. I can imagine him, brush loaded, poised, ready to make the first mark – a confident sweep of the brush to define the bird's back and wing. The paint is thin, almost transparent in places, allowing the white of the paper to breathe through. It reminds me of calligraphy, each stroke deliberate and full of intention. That dark outline, so bold and unwavering, gives the bird its form and presence. What was he thinking when he made it? Looking at this work, I'm reminded of other painters, from the East and West, who have sought to capture the essence of a subject with minimal means. It's a conversation across time, an exchange of ideas and techniques that inspires and challenges us to see the world in new ways. Painting is about embracing ambiguity, allowing for multiple interpretations and meanings.