Study of goats 1907

This sheet of goat studies was made by Hans Heysen with pencil on paper. Each of these animals has a distinct character, don't they? It's like Heysen captured their individual personalities through the simple act of sketching. Look at the varying pressure of the pencil lines – thick and confident in some areas, light and tentative in others. It's as if you can feel the artist's hand moving across the page, searching for the essence of each goat. The textures in these drawings are so evocative, you can almost feel the wiry hairs of their coats. In particular, I'm drawn to the goat at the bottom left – those sweeping lines that define its beard, and the way Heysen suggests the curve of its horns with just a few strokes. It reminds me of some of the loose, gestural drawings of Käthe Kollwitz. There's a similar sense of empathy and connection to the subject. Art is all about that constant exchange of ideas, isn't it? It's a never-ending conversation across time.