Hazelworm 1887 - 1924

Julie de Graag made this small drawing of a Hazelworm with pen and ink on paper. The palette is simple: a beige paper, with black ink, and then a lighter grey wash where the light hits the round body of the creature. There's something about the handmade quality of the drawing that is so compelling. De Graag uses a simple hatching technique for the pattern on its side. You can imagine her hand moving carefully, making each little mark, building up the image slowly, bit by bit. See how the snake curls in on itself, creating this lovely spiral shape? I find that such a satisfying gesture. De Graag's work reminds me a little of Hilma af Klint, another artist who was interested in the natural world and used simple shapes and forms to convey complex ideas. Both artists seem to be searching for something beyond the surface of things, trying to capture the essence of life in their art. This piece invites us to consider the many different ways of seeing and experiencing the world.