Slapende jongen in bed c. 1932

Elly Verstijnen made this intimate ink drawing, ‘Slapende jongen in bed’, presumably with ink on paper. I wonder how the drawing came to be? Perhaps she began with the oval, deciding to frame the image and give it context? Or did the oval emerge from the drawing itself? I like to imagine her working quickly, mapping out the composition with a few gestural lines. The checked blanket and striped pajamas feel bold, made by a confident hand. The medicine bottle and glass on the nightstand tells us something about the sleeper. Is he sick? Is this a tender moment? Or is it a reflection on childhood and loss? It reminds me of other works, like Van Gogh’s drawings of people in their most unguarded moments. Here, Verstijnen captures a stillness, an innocence, maybe even a melancholy that reminds us how art transcends time, how artists are always in conversation, drawing inspiration and insight from one another. Ultimately, it's up to us to decide.