Ontwerp voor raam in het Noordertransept in de Dom te Utrecht c. 1934

Richard Nicolaüs Roland Holst made this design for a window in the Utrecht Cathedral, using chalk and graphite. It’s a fascinating exercise in fragmentation, isn't it? The composition is dissected into a myriad of geometric shards by these thick black lines. They act like a stained-glass framework, each pane filled with subtle gradations of tone, from cool blues to warmer browns. Look at how the light seems to emanate from within, despite the sombre palette. It’s all thanks to the surface texture and the way Holst layers the chalk and graphite. It's a bit like looking through a kaleidoscope, where every twist brings a fresh perspective, offering glimpses of something both familiar and wonderfully strange. The influence of artists like Gustav Klimt, who also explored fragmentation and symbolism, feels pretty clear here. Holst shows us that art is less about answers and more about sparking conversations.