Stoel en florale ornamenten c. 1901

This drawing of a chair and floral ornaments was made by Gerrit Willem Dijsselhof, probably as a study for a larger work, and you can see that the paper is lined. I’m interested in the way the chair is not quite whole, as if held in memory, or caught in a process of becoming. Look at the way the dark pencil is layered to create tone and volume. It's all about the pressure of the pencil on the paper, isn't it? See those dangling lines suggesting a broken chair seat? They give the drawing a casual, incomplete feel, as if Dijsselhof was thinking out loud. The floral ornaments have an art nouveau flavour. These bulbous shapes are drawn with a delicate, flowing line that contrasts with the straighter, more structural lines of the chair. This reminds me a little of Matisse, with its emphasis on line and decorative form. I love how the drawing celebrates the beauty of everyday objects and suggests that even a chair can be a source of inspiration.