Nederland en Posthuma before 1916

This is a drawing by Willy Sluiter, whose signature you can see at the bottom right. It’s a magazine cover, and the palette is limited to browns and blues. I’m curious about this work and Sluiter's process. Did he begin with a sketch? Or maybe he starts with a light wash of color, then builds up the details layer by layer. Either way, I feel I can see the artist at work, wrestling with form, line, and composition. The table and plates are set and the couple is sitting across from each other, seemingly deep in thought. He is resting his chin on his hand, while she looks downward at her clasped hands. I wonder what they’re thinking about? The curtains behind them create a pattern, and the lamp hangs above, creating a domestic scene. There’s a wonderful contrast between the dark, earthy tones of the figures and the bright, airy blues of the background. The artist is participating in a long conversation with other artists across time, but also inviting us to join in.