Pierrot met uitgestoken hand c. 1917 - 1919

Otto Verhagen captured this Pierrot with outstretched hand using pencil on paper. The figure emerges from the page, with quick marks describing the simple costume. Look at the line on the right side of the Pierrot’s cloak. It moves confidently downward, yet fades toward the bottom of the page, disappearing into the unknown. You can sense the artist deciding and then re-deciding what's important. Is it the hat? The buttons? The ruff? The blank out-turned hand? The artist emphasizes certain areas, while other marks are merely suggestive. It reminds me of drawings by Picasso, or even Manet, who used line in a similar way. It’s like Verhagen is speaking to these artists across time, isn't it? As artists, we’re all having a big conversation, riffing off each other, finding new ways to express the oldest and most essential human themes.