Twee studies van hoofden before 1917

This drawing, "Twee studies van hoofden", in the Rijksmuseum, was done by Matthijs Maris, using graphite and paper. Looking at this ghostly image, the faded graphite lines suggest a gentle, searching process. It's like Maris was trying to capture not just a likeness, but a fleeting thought, a wisp of a memory. The paper itself, aged and stained, becomes part of the story. It reminds me of how the passage of time can soften edges and blur details, yet somehow deepen the sense of mystery. Notice the delicate hatching around the faces. It's almost as if he's building up the form from a series of whispers. This reminds me of Whistler's subtle tonalist paintings, where atmosphere and mood take precedence over sharp definition. Both artists share a similar sensibility, exploring the evocative power of understatement. What we are left with is a feeling of quiet contemplation, an invitation to pause and reflect on the ephemeral nature of existence.