Drie Chinese jongens en een etende kat c. 1900 - 1930

Elly Verstijnen made this monochromatic line drawing of Chinese boys and a cat, probably with pen and ink. I can imagine her working fast, letting the drawing guide her hand as she brings the scene to life. There are two halves to this picture, a trio of boys under a parasol and a cat lapping from a bowl. I wonder what Verstijnen was thinking when she put these two scenes together? Maybe she saw the connection between the self-contained world of the children and the private moment of the cat at its bowl. The boys are standing straight, their eyes facing forward, in a way that reminds me of other figurative painters such as Marlene Dumas. The stark lines and high contrast create a dramatic effect, lending a sense of immediacy to the drawing. Verstijnen has made bold marks and subtle nuances which add depth and feeling to the image. It’s like she’s having a visual conversation with other artists across time. And in the end, that’s what painting is, a big, ongoing discussion between artists who inspire each other, across generations.