We see a sculpture with a representation that requires closer inspection or observation.The work was made in 1911 by the Dutch sculptor Leendert Bolle and was exhibited in December 1922 at the exhibition 'Van Binnenhuiskunst' that literally translates to ‘Of Interiordesign’ at the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam.

Design

The material Bolle used is metallized concrete, which is a special process for adding lively colors to concrete. This was an ideal panacea for the Amsterdam School architects because they worked a lot with sloping, flowing and wavy shapes. By processing the metal salts in cement before pouring, 'life' was added to the otherwise gray and hard substance. Ultimately, metallized concrete was only used in the Netherlands and there are only limited examples of sculptures or statues known.The color that we see emerging on the edges of this sculpture is a beautiful blue that shows similarities with the reflection of light that we know from ceramic objects. Given the surreal representation and composition, this work is of exceptional class and craftsmanship and is in a league of its own. It shows a bird with a curved beak that has positioned itself firmly in a bush or nest. The abstract figure next to it appears to be wearing a pointed hat with an eye-catching line winding towards the base of the image.The refined shapes enter into a beautiful synergy with the rough and irregular material that produces a textural sensation when touched upon lightly.

Provenance

It is signed at the base and at the bottom is the original 1922 sticker of the exhibition where works by, among others, W.G. Brouwer, Cornelis van der Sluys and Hildo Krop were featured.