Kippen 1907

Willem Cornelis Rip captured these chickens with graphite on paper. I can almost feel the artist, quickly sketching, trying to capture the fleeting movements of these birds as they peck and strut. There's something so immediate and honest about a drawing like this, isn't there? You can see the hand of the artist, the pressure of the graphite creating a range of tones and textures. It’s a dance between observation and mark-making; Rip isn’t just copying what he sees, but interpreting it. I imagine him thinking about the weight of each bird, the way their feathers ruffle, the awkward angles of their necks. I bet he was working fast, trying to keep up. It's a reminder that painting and drawing is not just about the finished product, but the experience of seeing, feeling, and responding to the world around us. Like a visual conversation.