Anatomische studie van de borst-, buik- en beenspieren van een man in silhouet 1906 - 1945

Reijer Stolk made this anatomical study in silhouette using a printmaking technique. I am totally fascinated by what the artist might have been thinking while making this. It is really cool, the figure has been built up of layered marks, each seemingly describing a different muscle group, sinew or plane of skin. I can imagine the artist, head in his hands, squinting, while tracing the contours of a model and then committing that to paper, almost like he's building up an image from the inside out. I wonder if Stolk was aware of similar anatomical studies being made at the time? How do artists build on what has come before? It's always a fascinating question to ask when you are in the studio. Like painters throughout history, Stolk is in conversation with them. And as viewers we can ask questions and have dialogues with the work ourselves. Embodied expression embraces ambiguity, allowing for multiple interpretations.