Studies 1906 - 1945

Editor: So, this is “Studies,” a pencil and graphite drawing made sometime between 1906 and 1945, attributed to Reijer Stolk and held at the Rijksmuseum. It looks like a page from a sketchbook—really raw and immediate. What stands out to you about it? Curator: The loose, exploratory nature is what immediately grabs me. Think about the early 20th century, a time of rapid social and political upheaval. This sketch feels like an artist grappling with shifting forms, unsure of the solid, defined structures of the past. Editor: Unsure how? Curator: Well, consider the role of the artist. Were they, and are they, simply meant to document reality, or to challenge it, to break it apart and reimagine it? The abstraction suggests a resistance to traditional representation, perhaps a subtle form of protest against societal expectations and norms. Are they studying mere form or investigating societal change? What is their purpose? Editor: That's a really interesting way to look at it! It pushes beyond just the aesthetic. I never thought of a simple sketch carrying such weight. Curator: Every artistic choice is a reflection of the world around it. How can we view even unfinished artworks, like these, as important interventions? And whose stories are embedded in the works – who does the creation of the art benefit? Editor: So, even a quick sketch like this can be seen as a statement, not just a study? I’ll definitely think about that when I see other sketches!