Vier meisjes en een kabouter in een bos c. 1890 - 1936

This drawing of four girls and a goblin in a forest was made by Frans Lazarom, probably in the early 20th century. It’s all sinuous black lines, like he was sketching a thought as quickly as he could. I can just imagine Lazarom hunched over his drawing board, totally absorbed, letting his imagination lead him. It’s like he’s inviting us into a world of childhood fantasies, where forests are magical and goblins are part of the crew. Those spindly trees reach up high like gothic cathedral spires. I wonder what the girls are thinking? What’s their relationship to this creature? I love how Lazarom uses just the slightest shift in line weight to suggest form and shadow. It's a really intimate piece. You get the feeling that the artist has been to this forest and is letting you in on a secret.