Ornament met bladmotief 1906 - 1945

This is a sketch of a leaf motif by Reijer Stolk. Just looking at it, you can tell it was made with a kind of searching line, one that doesn't quite know where it’s going. It's not trying to be too precise, more like feeling its way around the shape, which, to me, is what artmaking is all about. The lines are graphite, very simple. You can almost see Stolk figuring it out as he goes, deciding where the curves go, how sharp the edges should be. There's a spontaneity to it that's really appealing. Look at the top of the leaf, where the line curls inward. It’s a small detail, but it gives the whole thing a sense of movement, like the leaf is unfurling right before your eyes. It reminds me a little of Matisse’s paper cut-outs, that same effortless quality. I think it speaks to this idea that art is a constant conversation, each artist riffing off the ideas of those who came before.