Oude vrouw met wasgoed c. 1950 - 1971

Dirkje Kuik made this etching, titled ‘Oude vrouw met wasgoed’, with ink on paper. I really admire the kind of art making where you can see the process. The marks are so immediate, like she's sketching directly from life, really capturing a feeling more than a scene. Look how she’s built up the figures with these quick, almost scribbled lines. It’s like she's feeling her way around the forms. The darks are really dark, creating a strong contrast. See how the face on the right is only partially formed? It gives the impression of movement and that this old woman is weighed down carrying laundry. It reminds me a little of Paula Modersohn-Becker's etchings with their emphasis on line and their raw, intimate quality. It’s this sense of art as a way of seeing, of not being too precious, that I find so inspiring.