Schetsen van zittende figuren 1626 - 1671

This drawing, "Schetsen van zittende figuren," was made by Sebastien Bourdon. Its linear sketches and studies appear scattered on a rectangular page in the collection of the Rijksmuseum. The composition, filled with fragmentary red and brown chalk lines, reveals multiple attempts at capturing figures in various seated poses. The network of lines, layered and seemingly chaotic, invites us to consider the artist's process. The transparency of the medium allows for a glimpse into the artist's evolving thought process. Bourdon's sketch operates in a space between representation and abstraction, with each line contributing to the overall structure. The eye wanders across the surface, piecing together suggestions of form from a field of marks. In the end, the drawing shows the artist's exploration of form and posture. It emphasizes process over product, and challenges our conventional understanding of artistic representation.