Egelhoeder c. 1950 - 1971

Dirkje Kuik made this etching of ‘Egelhoeder’ without a date, using a muted palette that feels both eerie and whimsical. It’s like she’s not just depicting a character but also revealing a process of seeing and feeling. The wispy, almost frantic lines that build up the figure give the whole image a kind of shivering energy, like the character is not quite there, or perhaps transforming before our eyes. The hat, built from these nervous strokes, balances precariously on his head, suggesting a world on the brink of collapse. The acid-bitten lines almost feel like the work of Klinger. That one long, dark stroke defining the figure's nose is interesting because it contrasts with the rest of the piece. A symbol of authority or perhaps just the sharp edge of a hidden sensitivity? Who knows? That's for us to imagine. It makes you wonder what Kuik saw in the world, and how she transformed it through her unique mark-making.