nature #255 Rien Poortvliet (1932-1995)

The artwork presents a close-up portrait of a canine subject. The composition is tightly cropped, focusing primarily on the animals head and upper body, with its front paws prominently displayed in the lower portion of the frame. A dark, textured background provides contrast, allowing the warm tones of the dog’s fur to stand out.
The artist employed a loose, expressive brushstroke technique, evident in the visible texture of the paint application. This contributes to a sense of immediacy and vitality within the depiction. The color palette is dominated by shades of brown, gold, and cream, with subtle variations creating depth and form. Light falls across the animal’s face, highlighting its soulful eyes and emphasizing the characteristic droop of its ears.
The dogs gaze appears direct and engaging, fostering a connection with the viewer. The posture suggests a relaxed demeanor; the head is tilted slightly, conveying an impression of gentle curiosity or perhaps even melancholy. A handwritten inscription in the lower left corner, rendered in a script that seems deliberately informal, identifies the subject as deze zorgelijk lijkende figuur is de Basset hound. This adds a layer of narrative and invites contemplation about the perceived emotional state of the animal – worried-looking figure – which contrasts with its otherwise placid appearance.
Beyond a straightforward representation of an animal, the painting seems to explore themes of vulnerability, empathy, and the complexities of nonverbal communication. The artist’s choice to focus so intently on the dogs face encourages viewers to consider the inner life of this creature, prompting reflection on human-animal relationships and the capacity for shared emotion.