Pierrot met uitgestoken hand c. 1917 - 1919

Otto Verhagen drew this Pierrot with an outstretched hand in charcoal. It’s the kind of quick rendering that lets the hand do the work, and the brain do the thinking. There’s something really beautiful about the simplicity of this piece. The charcoal is applied with varying pressure, creating a range of tonal values that give the figure a sense of depth and volume. Look at the lines around the clown’s collar, the way they seem to dance and vibrate with energy, creating a sense of movement and lightness. And then there’s the hand, outstretched, open - offering something, or perhaps asking for something in return. I’m reminded of Daumier’s drawings of performers, with their exaggerated features and sense of pathos. Both artists seem to understand the loneliness inherent in the act of performance, the way a clown is both present and absent, visible and hidden. Like any good drawing, this Pierrot exists in a space of ambiguity, inviting us to bring our own interpretations and emotions to the table.