Hagedissen 1887 - 1924

This is Julie de Graag's drawing of two lizards, called 'Hagedissen', made with graphite on paper. I can imagine De Graag sketching these creatures, trying to capture their stillness and speed, those tiny claws and darting eyes. The drawing is more about line than form, the artist outlining the essence of ‘lizardness’, you know? The texture of the paper shows through the delicate graphite marks, which feels very intimate. What do you think she was thinking? Was she observing them in a terrarium? Did she find them in a garden? Or was she just conjuring them from memory? It makes me wonder what it was like to be her. I bet she was fascinated by the natural world. It makes me think about other artists who find inspiration in the everyday, like Agnes Martin or Ellsworth Kelly, you know? We are all in conversation with one another across time.