Triomfbogen c. 1901

This architectural sketch by Gerrit Willem Dijsselhof is all about exploring the structure of triumphal arches, the kind of grand entrances that shout "victory!" I can imagine Dijsselhof’s excitement as he worked on this piece, trying out different configurations and flourishes. The pencil lines are tentative, searching, almost shy, but determined. Look at the precision in the curves and the way the lines thicken and thin, giving depth to a flat surface. He’s playing with perspective, trying to give us a sense of the monumentality he’s aiming for. There’s something almost musical about the repetitive curves. It reminds me of the art nouveau movement, a kind of visual poem. When you make a drawing like this, you are in conversation with everyone who has ever drawn an arch. You have to find your own voice. It’s a delicate balance between confidence and doubt. The drawing feels like a question mark. And it's that openness, that willingness to experiment, that makes this piece so appealing.