Zuid-Afrikaanse politiek 1900 - 1935

Patricq Kroon made this small drawing, "Zuid-Afrikaanse politiek," with pencil and ink. The hand is drawn with such energy and detail, you can almost feel the pressure. Look at the way Kroon builds up the form, layering quick, sketchy lines to create shadow and volume. The names emerging from the fist – Botha, Steyn – are like slippery eels wriggling free. The hand's got a real sense of agency, like the artist is right there in the process, making a quick, impassioned statement. The dark ink of the suit sleeve grounds the image, a stark contrast to the frenetic energy of the hand. The rapid marks and raw quality remind me of Philip Guston’s later work – the political edge, the deliberately awkward drawing. In both, there's an embrace of the imperfect, a willingness to let the process be visible, and a recognition that clarity isn’t always the point.