Vogel met uitgespreide vleugels 1887 - 1924

Julie de Graag made this watercolor of a bird with outstretched wings on paper. I’m immediately drawn to the wings. The way the yellow bleeds into the black, it's so simple, yet so expressive. You can feel the movement, the bird taking flight. Imagine De Graag in her studio, watching this bird, trying to capture its essence with just a few strokes of her brush. It’s like she’s saying, "Here, look at this beautiful creature. Isn't it amazing?" It reminds me of some of the botanical drawings I have seen. I can almost feel the texture of the feathers, the lightness of its bones. It’s interesting to see the other smaller drawings on the page as well. Painters are constantly looking, observing, learning from each other, and from the world around them. De Graag, with her simple bird, reminds us to pay attention to the small things, the fleeting moments, the beauty that is all around us.