De vledermuizen 1894 - 1959

"De vledermuizen" at the Rijksmuseum features these twilight creatures rendered with delicate lines and a muted palette. You can almost feel the artist feeling their way through the scene. The process of describing, of figuring out the shape of those wings, feels palpable. Look at the way the sepia tones wash over the bats, how the thin washes create a sense of depth and movement. See that one bat, the largest, closest to us? Notice the intricate detailing of its wings, each vein carefully delineated, like a map of the night sky. It's as if Gordinne is inviting us to consider the strangeness and beauty of the natural world through meticulous observation. It reminds me a little of Audubon’s bird studies, but with a touch of the uncanny. There's a real sense of curiosity and wonder here, a willingness to embrace ambiguity rather than pin down definitive meanings. That's what makes art so exciting: it's a conversation, an ongoing exchange of ideas, across time.