Sick Woman 

Rik Wouters made this stark image of a sick woman with black crayon on paper, and it has a striking immediacy. The medium itself is key. Crayon, as a drawing material, is interesting because of its accessibility. It is cheap and direct, a standard supply across society. In this study, Wouters is using crayon not for childlike purposes, but as a mode of expression. His subject seems to emerge directly from the earth-toned paper, which is minimally worked. He captures the scene with a spontaneous arrangement of strokes. There is a directness in the marks. It is about the quick capture of the image, its social meaning, and the class that both artist and subject inhabited. Here the use of such humble materials transcends any implied limitations, suggesting that meaningful art can emerge from the most unpretentious of means.