Dormice 1903

Archibald Thorburn painted these dormice with watercolour, but I don't know when! What strikes me is the patient, almost tender way he's watched them, rendering fur and flora with such careful attention. The colours are so muted and naturalistic, you can almost feel the scratch of the branches, see the sunlight dappling through the leaves. I'm drawn to the way the light catches the dormice's fur, a warm, golden brown that contrasts with their creamy undersides. Looking closely, it's so delicate; thin washes of colour built up to create depth and texture. You can see the individual hairs, each one carefully placed. It's as if Thorburn wanted to capture not just their appearance, but their very essence. It reminds me a little of Audubon's birds, though perhaps less dramatic, more intimate. Both artists share that sense of wonder and respect for the natural world, reminding us that art is an ongoing conversation with everything around us.