Chinese vaas met vier kleine beelden 1867 - 1935

Maurits van der Valk made this etching of a Chinese vase and figures, but I don’t know exactly when. It’s a quiet scene—a gathering of objects sketched with delicate marks, each form emerging from a field of soft grey. I imagine Van der Valk in his studio, arranging these figures, maybe turning them this way and that, considering how the light catches their surfaces. I wonder what he was thinking about, what conversations he was having with himself as he worked? Each line feels tentative, searching, as if he’s trying to capture not just the appearance of these objects, but also their essence. See how the vase looms large, its surface reflecting a miniature world, while the small figures seem to huddle together, engaged in some silent communion. It reminds me of Morandi, another artist who found endless inspiration in the quiet arrangements of everyday objects. There’s a sense of intimacy here, a feeling that we’re being invited into Van der Valk’s private world, to share in his contemplation of these simple, yet profound forms. It’s like he’s inviting us to slow down, to really look and to find beauty in the ordinary.