Zwaan in het water 1887 - 1924

This is Julie de Graag's 'Swan in the Water', it’s a tiny papercut, like a postage stamp. The swan is drawn with such simple, confident lines. You can almost feel her hand moving as she made it. I love the way de Graag has captured the essence of a swan with so little. It's not about perfection, or detail, but about getting the gesture just right. The body of the swan is just a few strokes, but they perfectly describe its shape. The neck is long and elegant, and the head is slightly tilted, as if the swan is looking at something. It’s such an economy of means. It reminds me of some of Matisse’s drawings, where he was trying to capture the essence of a form with as few lines as possible. Both artists show us that sometimes, less really is more.