Treinlocomotief 1906 - 1945

Reijer Stolk made this sketch of a 'Treinlocomotief' with graphite on paper. The locomotive emerges from a flurry of lines, and the artist seems to be feeling out the forms, groping for an understanding. I can imagine Stolk's hand moving quickly, trying to capture the essence of this machine, the dark, heavy energy of it. The marks are tentative, unsure. I imagine that he had to work fast before the train left the station, and the image has a sense of urgency. The smudges and erasures suggest a restless exploration, as the artist searches for the right lines to convey the weight and power of the subject. I think of other artists who have been fascinated by trains – the Futurists with their celebration of speed and dynamism – and how they have all, in their own way, tried to capture the thrill of modernity.