Bloem c. 1916

Reijer Stolk created this sketch, ‘Bloem’, with pencil on paper. The drawing presents a centrally positioned flower, its petals broad and gently curved, surrounded by decorative borders above and below. The composition emphasizes symmetry and stylized natural forms characteristic of the Art Nouveau movement. The use of line is particularly striking. Stolk employs a delicate touch, using fine pencil strokes to define the contours of the flower and the surrounding decorative motifs. This focus on line, rather than shading or color, highlights the graphic quality of the work, reducing the flower to its essential, almost symbolic form. This aesthetic choice reflects a broader artistic interest in simplification and abstraction of natural forms. The borders framing the flower are not merely decorative, but integral to the overall structure. They provide a visual anchor, contrasting with the organic fluidity of the floral form. The lettering at the bottom, combined with the floral motif, suggests Stolk’s possible interest in the intersection of language and visual representation. This piece destabilizes the boundaries between pure representation and symbolic communication.