Vrouw van Wilhelmus Johannes Steenhoff, in bed 1873 - 1932

Wilhelmus Johannes Steenhoff made this drawing of his wife in bed using charcoal, or something similar, sometime in the late 19th or early 20th century. What strikes me is the incredible tenderness in these marks. Look at the soft gradations of tone, the way the charcoal smudges and blends to create a sense of depth and form. The lines are feathery and light, as if Steenhoff was afraid to disturb his sleeping wife. There’s something very intimate about the way he’s captured her vulnerability in this private moment. You can almost feel the texture of the paper, the way the charcoal clings to the surface. The dark, almost gothic, swathe of the headboard is like a dark cloud hanging over them. But look closer at the face. See how the light catches the bridge of her nose and the curve of her cheek? It reminds me a little of Käthe Kollwitz in its quiet emotional intensity. Ultimately, this drawing is a testament to the power of simple materials to capture complex emotions, speaking to the beauty and fragility of life.