Pin Cushion c. 1939

Ferdinand Badin’s 'Pin Cushion' is a delightful watercolour of a bird sitting on a cushion. The painting is so delicately done; you can see the care and the hand of the artist in every stroke. It almost feels like the bird has just landed there. Was he thinking of it as a portrait? Or perhaps it was an idea, a sketch for something bigger. I love how the blue of the bird pops against the muted tones of the cushion. It’s an unusual colour for a bird, but it adds a touch of whimsy to the whole thing. I can imagine Badin sitting there, patiently layering the colours, trying to capture the essence of this little creature. There’s a certain stillness in the painting that suggests he was really present in the moment. The precision reminds me of Audubon but there’s a tenderness here, a real affection for the subject. And when we look at this bird, we are, in some way, looking at Badin too.