Boekenstal 1938

Henk Henriët made this drawing, Boekenstal, with graphite. The artist's hand has moved deliberately across the paper, coaxing this scene of a bookseller into being. Look how the figures emerge from a haze of cross-hatched marks. You can imagine Henriët, eyes fixed on the subject, hand constantly moving and adjusting, building up tone and texture. I can almost feel the paper between my fingers, the delicate give of it. The books are stacked in disarray, little towers of knowledge just waiting to be discovered. Henriët has captured a moment, an exchange. A potential buyer holds a book, considering. His face is unreadable. Perhaps he is weighing its value, or maybe he’s already lost in the world of words. The artist shows the way that people are drawn to the marketplace and how they interact. Henriët's work reminds us of the simple beauty of everyday life and the ongoing conversation between artists across time.