Gezicht in profiel naar links 1906 - 1945

Editor: This is "Gezicht in profiel naar links," a pencil drawing by Reijer Stolk, likely made sometime between 1906 and 1945. It’s a quick sketch, a face in profile. I’m struck by the artist’s almost brutal economy of line. What stands out to you? Curator: The raw simplicity is indeed compelling. Notice how Stolk uses hatching to suggest form and volume, particularly in the area of the hair. But consider, too, the lines that aren’t there – the negative space defines the cheekbone, creating an angular tension. How does this interplay between presence and absence affect your reading of the face? Editor: I see what you mean. The sketchy quality makes it feel unfinished, or maybe uncertain? Like the artist is searching for the form. Curator: Precisely! This ‘search’ is visible in the layering of the lines, which calls attention to the artistic process. Stolk isn't simply representing a face; he's revealing the very act of representation. The slightly wavering outlines could also suggest movement, or perhaps introspection. Does the line quality evoke other meanings for you? Editor: That's insightful! It also occurs to me that the loose, almost frenetic lines contrast with the stillness of the profile pose itself. I suppose I hadn’t considered the meaning inherent in the medium, in the quality of the line itself. Curator: Indeed. Every mark contributes to the overall effect, challenging us to consider how formal elements work together to create meaning, not merely depict an image. It pushes the drawing away from simple likeness, and towards something more complex. Editor: I see the drawing in a new light now. Thanks to our discussion, I realize I can also examine the formal components that reflect modern artistic movements, even from simple sketches like this! Curator: That is what the artist and I both hope for when people contemplate his art.