This portrait shows a young woman with a mysterious, almost serene expression. On her head, she wears a nest woven from her own golden hair. Inside the nest are three young crows, their beaks reaching upward for food — a symbol of vulnerability, growth, and the cycle of care. On her hands rest two adult crows, their feathers glowing with a bluish-black sheen — silent guardians representing strength and intelligence.
The background is a soft yellow-green, creating harmony while allowing the figure to shine. She wears a green blouse, further emphasizing her deep connection to nature. As in much of my work, dreamlike imagery, reality, and symbolism blend together.
I’m fascinated by the way nature reflects itself in humans. In this piece, I explore motherhood, protection, and instinct, but also the quiet mystery of the relationship between humans and animals. Through color, form, and surreal elements, I try to give that inner landscape a place on canvas.
In her vivid, modern portraits, Tanja Kooymans explores the quiet magic that lingers beneath the surface of the everyday.
Her figures, often women adorned with surreal elements , move through a dreamlike space where nature, fantasy, and identity meet.
With intuitive use of color and..
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