Rika's vogeltjes c. 1902

"Rika's Vogeltjes" by Pellerin & Cie. is a print of simple linework, lightly and charmingly coloured with watercolour washes. It's like a page from a child's storybook, with its sequential scenes framed in circles and rectangles. You can almost feel the artist sketching out the compositions, figuring out how to best arrange the figures and birds in each little vignette. The texture of the paper peeks through the thin layers of colour, giving it a light and airy feel. There’s something so appealing about the directness of the marks, the way the artist doesn't try to hide the process. Look at how the birds are drawn! Just a few lines, but they're full of life and movement. The simple compositions remind me of Japanese Ukiyo-e prints, but with a more tender and intimate feel. Like children playing out scenarios in a doll house. Ultimately, the artwork revels in its imperfections, inviting us to embrace the beauty of the handmade.