Dode vogel before 1977

Kees Stoop made this etching, ‘Dead Bird’, with ink on paper. There's such a tactile quality to this work, like you can feel the texture of the bird’s feathers and the rough wood it rests upon. The lines are so intricate and dense in places, creating a rich, almost velvety darkness, then sparse and light in others, giving the image air to breathe. Notice how the bird's lifeless body is rendered with such sensitivity. The way Stoop uses the etching technique, it's almost as if he is mapping the contours of mortality itself. The beak is slightly ajar, the claws awkwardly positioned, each detail telling a story of stillness. The background foliage is like a shroud, adding to the sense of solemnity. It reminds me of how Paula Modersohn-Becker approached still life, finding beauty in the ordinary, even in decay. Ultimately, Stoop's piece is a reminder that art can transform the mundane into something profound, inviting us to contemplate the fragile beauty of life and death.