Studies van takjes, bloemen en distels 1887 - 1924

Julie de Graag made these studies of twigs, flowers, and thistles with pencil and watercolour on paper. Look how she’s built up a whole variety of shapes, tones and textures, all from very limited means. Everything is so finely rendered, so delicate. You can imagine Julie carefully examining each leaf, each stem, figuring out how to reduce it to its essence. I like to think of her, brush in hand, hovering over the paper, gently coaxing these botanical forms into being. What was she thinking as she made this? Was she lost in the sheer pleasure of looking, or perhaps contemplating the secret life of plants? De Graag’s studies remind me of other artists who found endless inspiration in the natural world, like Hilma af Klint or Agnes Martin. It's like they're all part of a conversation about seeing, feeling, and capturing the fleeting beauty of life. Each artist offers a different way of experiencing the world, inspiring each other across time. Painting is about expression, leaving space for imagination and multiple interpretations.