De zeehond 1894 - 1959

This print of seals, by Gordinne, shows an approach to mark-making and colour that’s both precise and playful. It reminds us that art, at its heart, is a process of continuous exploration. Looking closely, the texture seems almost photographic in its detail, especially in the seals’ fur and the ripples on the water’s surface, but there's also something hand-done in the slightly uneven colouring of the sky. Check out the way the artist uses these subtle gradations of tone to create a hazy atmosphere, making the whole scene feel like a memory. The colour palette gives a sense of calm, with its muted greens, browns, and blues. The composition itself – the arrangement of the seals on the beach – suggests a kind of choreography, each seal positioned just so, contributing to the overall balance of the image. It reminds me a bit of the subtle, almost imperceptible shifts in colour and form that you see in the work of someone like Vilhelm Hammershøi, though with a lighter touch. Ultimately, this print embraces ambiguity, inviting us to linger and find our own meanings within its delicate lines and colours.