Cormorant 2 Roger Bansemer

The composition presents a stark verticality dominated by a red triangular sign bearing the numerals 34. The sign is rendered in a simplified style, its edges softened with watercolor washes that suggest a weathered or aged appearance. It appears to be affixed atop a slender, grey post, which itself rises from an indistinct, pale background – likely representing water or sky. Perched on the apex of the triangular sign sits a dark bird, identifiable as a cormorant by its characteristic long neck and beak.
The color palette is restrained; red, grey, black, and muted blues/whites create a sense of quietude and perhaps melancholy. The limited range contributes to an overall feeling of isolation. The stark contrast between the vibrant red of the sign and the somber tones of the bird and background draws immediate attention to both elements.
Several layers of interpretation emerge from this arrangement. The triangular sign, with its numerical designation, suggests a system of navigation or warning – a marker within a larger, unseen context. Its placement atop the post implies authority or prominence, yet the weathered appearance hints at obsolescence or neglect. The presence of the cormorant introduces an element of natural observation and perhaps even intrusion. Birds often symbolize freedom, but here, its position on the sign seems to confine it, suggesting a precarious balance between wildness and imposed structure.
The numerical designation 34 could be interpreted as a reference point within a broader system, or simply as an arbitrary marker devoid of specific meaning – a symbol of bureaucratic order applied to a natural setting. The painting’s subtexts revolve around themes of human intervention in the environment, the passage of time, and the uneasy coexistence of nature and artificial constructs. There is a sense of quiet tension between the imposed order represented by the sign and the inherent freedom embodied by the bird.