Gezin in een interieur 1889 - 1939

Willem Hardenberg made this pen and ink drawing, ‘Gezin in een interieur’, with an incredible delicacy of mark making. The whole scene is built up from fine, detailed lines, but it’s not tight or overworked. There’s a looseness, a sense of playfulness in the way that Hardenberg renders the scene, like he’s enjoying the process. I love how the carpet is suggested, not described. It’s almost pointillist, but less rigid, more lively. The dog looks like he's been added as an afterthought. Look at the father's coat, the way it falls and drapes. Hardenberg really knew how to capture the essence of the fabric with such simple means. And notice how he uses the same technique to render the floral wallpaper pattern in the background, creating a subtle echo between the foreground and background. The scene is a cozy domestic moment, but the touch of abstraction makes the image endure. It reminds me of Vuillard, but with a much lighter touch. Art is just such a big conversation, isn't it?