Portret van A.M.C. van Cooth schrijvend 1905

Theo Molkenboer made this drawing, "Portret van A.M.C. van Cooth schrijvend," in 1905, and it’s all about the quiet act of writing. Look at the hatching, those tiny little lines building up to create tone. It's almost like he's knitting with his pen! It gives the image a soft, almost fuzzy texture. The paper itself seems to absorb the light, making the whole scene feel intimate and contemplative. Notice the way he renders the hands, so detailed, yet they seem weightless as they guide the pen across the page. It makes me think about how much control and precision goes into writing, each stroke deliberate and meaningful. This piece reminds me of the drawings of Käthe Kollwitz, in the way it finds beauty in the everyday, and elevates the simple act of mark-making into something profound. Art, like writing, is all about communication, connecting with others through a shared language of marks and gestures.