Studies van een zeug met biggen 1915

Rik Wouters made these studies of a sow and piglets using ink on paper, but the date is unknown. What strikes me here is the real sense of movement in what is essentially a quick sketch. I love the way the ink is applied, sometimes as a thin, almost hesitant line, and at other times as a dark, pooling mass. There is a real contrast between the areas that are clearly defined, and those that are more ambiguous and suggestive. The dark patches of ink both describe the shadows, and create a sense of depth, helping us to understand the weight and mass of the animals. Look at the sow at the top of the drawing. See how the artist has used a series of quick, broken lines to describe its form. There’s a kind of nervous energy to the marks. As a painter, I find it fascinating to see how artists can capture a fleeting moment with such economy and grace. The work reminds me a little of Manet’s quick sketches of animals and figures; they both embrace a certain degree of imperfection and ambiguity, allowing the viewer to fill in the gaps. Ultimately, it’s this openness that makes the drawing so engaging.