Stilleven met kruik en ui 1900 - 1903

Julie de Graag made this still life of a jug and onion using pen and ink sometime around the early 20th century. Look at how the fine lines create the illusion of form and shadow. It’s amazing what you can do with simple materials and focused attention! I love the repetition of those horizontal lines on the jug, how they curve and shift to describe its roundness. It’s almost meditative, like a form of mark-making as thinking. See how the onion is rendered with a similar, though more organic, approach? This reminds me a little of the drawings of Agnes Martin, although Martin’s work is more abstract. De Graag’s piece feels very grounded and intimate, like a quiet conversation between objects. There’s a real sense of care and precision, but also a kind of humble simplicity. Artmaking as a way of seeing, a way of being present with the world. It’s about the process, not just the product.