Studie, vermoedelijk een dier 1914 - 1916

This quick sketch, probably from the late 19th or early 20th century, is by Willem Cornelis Rip and seems to be done with a graphite pencil in a sketchbook. It’s all about the process of looking and figuring out how to capture a fleeting impression. The drawing has this amazing, almost trembling energy, doesn't it? Look at the way Rip uses these short, feathery lines to suggest form and volume. It's so immediate, so direct. You can almost feel him hovering over the page, his hand moving quickly to try to pin down what he's seeing. There's a real physicality to the marks, especially where he’s building up the density of the shading. That one dark, scribbled area on the left, it's like a concentrated burst of energy, a kind of anchor for the whole image. Rip seems to be in conversation with Delacroix, another artist who also loved to draw animals. Both artists capture not just the appearance of the animal, but something of its essential spirit. It's a reminder that art isn't about perfect representation, it's about capturing a feeling, a moment, an idea.