Man die op een ezel rijdt c. 1916

Reijer Stolk made this sketch of a man riding a donkey, probably with graphite on paper, and it feels like the start of something, a moment of observation that might become something else. The lines are tentative, searching, like he’s feeling his way around the subject. See how the donkey’s legs are just these faint, almost scribbled lines? There’s a real sense of process here; it’s not about perfection, but about trying to capture a feeling or a movement. I love the way the artist has included a smaller, more detailed version of the same scene in the corner. It’s like he’s playing with different ways of seeing, different levels of focus. It reminds me of Philip Guston, who was also interested in the messy, imperfect process of making art, and how those imperfections can actually be where the real magic happens. Ultimately, this drawing is a reminder that art is about exploration and discovery, not about having all the answers.