Danseres in traditioneel kostuum 1906 - 1945

Reijer Stolk made this drawing of a dancer in traditional costume with graphite on paper. It looks like Stolk was really thinking through drawing, allowing the mistakes and erasures to remain visible. I mean, artmaking is a process, right? Look at the pressure of the marks, how some lines are dark and sure, while others are light and tentative. He’s feeling around, trying to capture a sense of movement and form. The costume is all angles and sharp lines, but the dancer’s face is softer, more delicate. The area around the figure’s head is particularly interesting, a flurry of graphite lines. It’s almost like the dancer is radiating energy, or maybe the costume is just really elaborate! This reminds me of some of Marlene Dumas’s drawings, which explore similar themes of identity and performance. But ultimately, it’s up to us to decide what it all means. That’s the beauty of art, isn’t it?