Ornament met krullende vormen 1884 - 1952

This drawing of curling ornaments was made by Reinier Willem Petrus de Vries. The artist's marks are delicate, tentative, and lightly sketched, giving a sense of the work in progress. The curls and spirals remind me of Matisse cutouts, or maybe even Art Nouveau ironwork. See how the pencil lines vary in pressure, creating depth and shadow in the drawing? The design feels complete, but it's also open, like a starting point for something else. And what about that tiny ornament in the lower right? Is it a sketch for another section, or a miniature version of the larger design? I love how Vries leaves these questions unanswered, inviting us to imagine the endless possibilities of the creative process. This reminds me that art is not just about the final product, but also the journey of exploration and discovery.