Hoofd van een lachende Afrikaan met hoofddeksel c. 1916 - 1945

Reijer Stolk made this drawing, "Hoofd van een lachende Afrikaan met hoofddeksel," with graphite on paper. Look at the simplicity and the quickness of the line. It feels as though Stolk captured a fleeting moment, a burst of joy, with just a few strokes. You can almost feel the artist's hand moving swiftly across the page, trying to catch the essence of that laughter before it fades away. What was this person thinking? Where were they when Stolk captured them? The slightness of the drawing makes me think of a haiku or a song. There's something so immediate about this sketch. It's as if Stolk wanted to share a little spark of joy with us, inviting us to imagine the story behind that smile. And, in a way, that's what art is all about—sharing moments, sparking connections, and inviting us to see the world in new ways. The work of an artist isn't ever truly done, because we, the viewers, complete it.