Militair zittend op een bal 1876 - 1924

This drawing of a soldier sitting on a ball was created by Gerrit Willem Dijsselhof using graphite on paper. Graphite, in its essence, is humble stuff – a form of carbon, not unlike the charcoal used for millennia to make preliminary sketches. But here, the artist uses it with a deceptive lightness. See how the marks are just enough to convey the essence of the figure, and its implied motion. The pressure of the artist’s hand, the angle of the graphite, and the texture of the paper all contribute to the overall effect of spontaneity. Dijsselhof was part of the Dutch Art Nouveau movement, and this work shows a playfulness that is typical of the style. While we might not normally associate the military with levity, here the artist subtly undermines authority with just a few strokes. It suggests a certain unease about those in power, a commentary made possible by the directness and simplicity of the medium. By focusing on the qualities of humblest of materials, we can better appreciate the intent and the wit that’s central to Dijsselhof’s drawing.