Figuur rijdend op een ezel c. 1916

This pencil sketch of a figure riding a donkey was made by Reijer Stolk. It captures a kind of free, improvisational thinking through drawing. Look at the way the donkey’s ears are described with just a few quick strokes. It’s like Stolk is feeling his way around the form, not trying to nail it down, but letting it emerge through the act of drawing. There’s an openness here, a willingness to let the drawing lead him, which is really appealing. The cross hatching describes the riders body, almost like the riders clothes have been scribbled onto the page. It reminds me a bit of Cy Twombly, in the way he used line and gesture to create a sense of movement and energy. But there's something very Dutch and grounded about it too. This piece feels like a conversation, a little dance between the artist, the subject, and the materials. And like any good conversation, it’s not about having all the answers, but about exploring the possibilities.