Hollandse ooievaar 1876 - 1951

Theo Nieuwenhuis made this drawing of a stork with graphite on paper. It's like he caught the bird mid-thought, a simple sketch that feels so complete. The lines are minimal but alive, and the stork’s form emerges with such ease, like a dance between the artist’s hand and the paper. Look at how he renders the beak with short, decisive marks, giving it weight and presence. Then there’s that scribble of feathers near the chest, a burst of energy that contrasts with the smooth, elongated neck. I’m reminded of Egon Schiele’s animal drawings. Both artists have this incredible knack for capturing the essence of a creature with such economy of line. But where Schiele is all angst, Nieuwenhuis feels playful, almost joyful. It makes you think about how drawing is really just a conversation, a sharing of what you see, and how you see it.