Meisjesportret van Joke 1887 - 1924

Julie de Graag made this portrait of a girl, Joke, with pencil on paper. You can see the intimacy of the moment, as Julie captures the girl's gentle gaze and soft features. I can almost feel the artist's hand moving across the page, sketching and erasing, building up the image line by line. What was she thinking as she drew Joke's face? Was she struck by her beauty, her innocence, or something else entirely? Maybe she was thinking about her own childhood. I think about my own drawing practice, too, how it's about seeing and feeling as much as it is about technique. The delicate lines create a sense of lightness and fragility. There's a sensitivity to the way she renders Joke's hair, with its wispy strands and playful curls. It reminds me of other portraits I've seen, from Holbein to Hockney, all trying to capture something essential about the human spirit. We are all in conversation with each other.