Zittend bemanningslid met sigaret c. 1880 - 1886

Editor: So, here we have "Seated Crew Member with Cigarette," a drawing in pencil and colored pencil by Louis Apol, created sometime between 1880 and 1886. It feels so… simple, almost stark. Just a quick sketch capturing a fleeting moment, you know? What jumps out at you when you look at it? Curator: It’s a very intimate portrayal, isn't it? Apol has managed to convey such a sense of quiet contemplation. I find myself wondering about the sitter – what’s he thinking? The loose lines suggest movement, the ephemeral nature of smoke…almost as if the artist is questioning our very perception of time and memory. Do you feel a connection to the sailor, or is it more of a detached observation? Editor: I definitely feel a connection! There's something relatable about taking a quiet moment like that. Maybe it's romanticized, but it feels like he's earned a moment of peace amidst hard work. I guess the artist might have wanted us to feel something familiar when looking at an ‘ordinary’ hard working person… Curator: Exactly! Apol avoids any idealization here; we are not talking about heroes or grand gestures but the humble and profound act of human being. The seemingly off-hand nature of the medium amplifies this impression: A quick study that shows how powerful ‘small’ drawings can be in comparison to large-scale paintings. And look at the squared paper, so functional, but yet part of the art. I am wondering if Apol intentionally did not erase guidelines to blur the lines between spontaneity and formal exercise… What do you think? Editor: That’s a great point; the squared paper definitely adds to the feeling of a personal sketchbook! So much information revealed with what appears as a simple drawing... Curator: Precisely. Apol is showing us the beauty of everyday moments and of the people around us, offering us permission to consider our place in society! It is all about people, everyday struggles and little personal joys!