Woodcock by Tanja Moderscheim

Medium: Oil on fine linen
Dimensions: H45cm x W36cm (unframed), H57cm x W47.5cm (framed)

About the Artist:
Tanja Möderscheim (1975) is a Dutch Fine artist based in London. She works in 17th century Dutch style and exclusively uses the techniques and pigments of that century. She specialises in elegant & refined oil paintings of game birds and other iconic 17th century subject matter. Her work expresses strong values of tradition and heritage, authenticity, luxury and beauty.

The artist’s fine technique and style is unique yet similar to that of the Dutch Golden Age. The combination of space and ‘strijklicht’, light that softly touches the subject, are typical of her work. Her paintings express serenity and silence and when painting game, she instils a strong sense of the animals’ dignity.

The artist’s background in the biological sciences (MSc, PhD) equips her with a unique approach to her painting practice: for example, her understanding of anatomy helps her paint game birds truthfully and her knowledge of chemistry allows her to work with the chemical properties of the pigments used by the Old Masters. She sources these pigments from niche producers and seeks out those who apply traditional production methods. Modern academic literature and 17th century manuscripts aid her in her work.

The quest for authenticity and quality does not stop there: in keeping with traditional motifs, the artist composes her game paintings using species including birds that were traditionally reserved for the aristocracy. For her tulip paintings she grows rare cultivars from the 16th - 18th centuries. In addition, the artist works with craftsmen to produce Dutch-style frames as well as Golden Age replicas. She also sources period frames.

Tanja Möderscheim’s collectors are based in the UK, Netherlands, USA and the Middle East. She provides lectures and key exhibitions include the Mall Galleries London and The Game Fair.