Maraboe 1864 - 1936

Jan van Essen's "Maraboe" is a delicate pencil drawing of a marabou stork, a large wading bird native to Africa. Created between 1864 and 1936, the artwork captures the bird's distinctive features, including its long legs, massive beak, and featherless head. Van Essen's keen eye for detail is evident in the meticulous depiction of the bird's anatomy and plumage. The drawing is currently housed in the Rijksmuseum, showcasing Van Essen's talent for animal studies and his contribution to the Dutch artistic tradition of nature observation.