Figuur voor de verschijning van een hert 1924

Bernard Willem Wierink’s “Figure for the Appearance of a Deer” is an etching that lives in its lines. The radiating strokes behind the deer really caught my eye. They’re not just about light; they’re about a process, like each line is a decision, a tiny, deliberate step in revealing this… mystical creature. Looking closer, I love the almost brutal texture that Wierink coaxes from the metal plate. It’s rough. You can see the scratches, the tiny imperfections that make it feel real, not some slick digital image. And that deer – it’s not just standing there. The artist really uses shadow to imply depth. You can almost feel the weight, the stillness of the moment before it bounds away. The figure at the bottom with his tools and the stag with the cross are definitely loaded with symbolism. This work reminds me a little of Paula Rego, who also delves into the surreal. It’s like Wierink is saying, “Here’s a myth, here’s a feeling, now you figure it out."