Bukkend kind en een vrouw zittend in het gras c. 1928 - 1930

Otto Verhagen made this drawing of a 'Bukkend kind en een vrouw zittend in het gras' with a pencil, though we don't know when. There's a raw immediacy to this sketch. It captures the essence of a moment, a fleeting observation. Look at the way the lines are laid down, so direct, so sure. You can feel the artist's hand moving across the page, mapping the forms, figuring things out as they go. The texture is almost entirely created by the density and direction of the marks. The cross-hatching gives weight and form to the figures, while the more open lines suggest light and space. Notice the way the artist uses line to describe the folds in the clothing, or the curve of the child's back. There's a real sense of physicality to it all. For me, it echoes the kind of quick studies you see from artists like Degas, who was also obsessed with capturing movement and gesture. Ultimately, this drawing reminds us that art is a process of discovery.