Zwaan in het water 1887 - 1924

Julie de Graag made this work, Zwaan in het water, with pen on paper. Look at that decisive black line. It's so sure of itself, isn't it? I imagine Julie de Graag had a clear idea of what she wanted to capture: the serene elegance of a swan gliding on water. I bet she was fascinated by these birds. There's an economy of line here, each stroke doing double duty, defining form and suggesting movement. The texture of the paper peeks through, adding a subtle, almost ghostly quality. It reminds me of the Japanese prints that were so popular at the time, where simplicity and suggestion were valued over elaborate detail. I wonder if she looked at Hokusai or Hiroshige? She probably did. This piece speaks to me of the quiet observation, the artist finding beauty in the everyday.