Bomen zonder blad achter haag 1939 - 2009

Editor: This charcoal drawing, "Bomen zonder blad achter haag," or "Trees without Leaves Behind a Hedge," made by Kees Stoop between 1939 and 2009, has this eerie and unsettling mood, but also very textural. The way the charcoal is layered almost makes the paper feel rough. What can you tell me about Stoop's process in creating this image? Curator: The material handling here is very telling. Stoop uses charcoal not to create illusion, but to emphasize the act of mark-making. Note the directness, the unblended strokes. The “realism” comes not from photographic accuracy, but from the honest portrayal of material itself: charcoal on paper. This work defies conventional artistic labor where the artist often tries to make a artwork which hides its origins. Editor: So you're saying the rough application is almost part of the meaning, not just a style? Curator: Precisely! Consider the social context. Made during and after World War II, the raw, almost unfinished quality of the drawing can be interpreted as a response to the instability and disruption of the era. Does it present themes relevant to post-war experience? Editor: I see what you mean. It’s not about depicting a perfect landscape but about showing the immediate and perhaps fragmented experience of seeing and recording. I hadn’t thought about it reflecting post-war difficulties, but that makes a lot of sense considering the timeframe. Curator: The use of such basic materials, charcoal and paper, democratizes art-making, almost saying, “Anyone could do this.” It connects to labor because, for a drawing like this, the cost isn't high. It’s anti-elitist in a way, and that resonates post-war. What's been achieved here with what seems to be something accessible, has far exceeded that. Editor: I never thought about it that way, this drawing as accessible, democratic... Thank you for showing me the value and social impact behind those seemingly casual marks of charcoal. Curator: Considering the making of art makes it truly possible to create connections within our society and our values.