Graanhalmen c. 1944 - 1990

Kees Stoop made this tiny etching of grain stalks, Graanhalmen, with ink on paper. I love how delicate the lines are. You can almost feel the breeze rustling through the field. I can imagine Stoop hunched over his plate, carefully etching each blade of grain, trying to capture the light and shadow, the way they sway in the wind. It’s such a simple scene, but there's something deeply moving about it. It reminds me of other artists' work - Agnes Martin's serene grids and the landscapes of Van Gogh. Stoop invites you to slow down, to appreciate the beauty of the natural world, and to consider the passage of time. Artists are always in conversation with each other, building on the ideas and techniques of those who came before. It’s an act of embodied expression, a way of connecting with the world and sharing that connection with others, full of ambiguity and uncertainty, allowing for multiple readings.