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

Frans Lazarom made "Vier meisjes en een kabouter in een bos" with ink. The drawing gives us a glimpse into a whimsical world where the line between reality and fantasy blurs. Look at the way Lazarom uses simple hatching to define the forms of the figures and trees. It’s kind of obsessive, not unlike some of Guston's marks. Those delicate lines build up to create volume and texture, making the scene feel both detailed and slightly dreamlike. Notice the thick, dark lines outlining the tree trunk, contrasting with the finer strokes used for the girls' dresses. It’s all about the process, building up the image one line at a time. And there's something about the way the scene is framed by the arch of foliage, like a stage set for a fairy tale. I'm left wondering about the stories hidden within it, and what other worlds Lazarom conjured up with his pen.