Steiger met diverse personen en een aangemeerde boot 1870 - 1931

Editor: So, here we have “Steiger met diverse personen en een aangemeerde boot,” or “Pier with various people and a moored boat,” a pencil and ink drawing by Willem Bastiaan Tholen, created sometime between 1870 and 1931. It feels incredibly immediate, like a snapshot from a personal sketchbook. What jumps out at you? Curator: Oh, the feeling of a fleeting moment, absolutely. Tholen captures the quiet energy of a working pier so beautifully. For me, it’s about the light, isn’t it? How the sunlight bounces off the water, illuminates the wood, and dances in the sky. Do you notice how he suggests the vastness of the space with these really economical lines? Editor: Yes, it’s amazing how much he conveys with so little! Almost impressionistic. I see a few figures scattered across the pier, seemingly absorbed in their tasks or just watching the water. Curator: Precisely! And each figure is captured with such individual character. Tholen isn't just drawing people; he’s suggesting stories. Each mark is intentional. Think about that dark contour outlining the closest man on the right versus the sketchier way he captures those in the distance. What does that say to you? Editor: That the focus isn't really about portraiture, but more about how light and atmosphere shape the experience of being there? It feels very much about *his* experience of that specific place. Curator: Exactly! It is an interpretation. Not just what he saw, but what he *felt* while seeing. It invites us into that shared moment, a stolen glance on a breezy day by the water. I wish I were there right now, to tell you the truth! Editor: This has made me appreciate the power of the humble sketch – it’s far more than just preliminary work. Thank you for illuminating that! Curator: My pleasure. Art is about connections. And even simple, small connections are still valuable.