Vier scènes met jongens before 1894

Willem Wenckebach made these four scenes of boys, using pen and ink on paper. The drawing is defined by the stark contrast between the black lines and the white paper, where the pen's lines are used with precision to define shapes, textures and the subtleties of light and shadow in each vignette. Look closely, and you can almost feel the weight of the paper, and the artist’s hand moving across its surface. Pen and ink drawing has a long history, often associated with preparatory sketches, illustrations, and personal expression. In Wenckebach’s hands, it becomes a means of capturing intimate moments of everyday life, hinting at the narratives and relationships that unfold within the scenes. The choice of such a direct and accessible medium brings these stories closer to the viewer. The simplicity of the materials allows the artist to focus on form and storytelling, inviting us to reflect on the social context and the quiet dramas played out in these images. In doing so, Wenckebach elevates the ordinary, blurring the lines between the artistic and the everyday.