Jongen schaatsend langs twee meisjes c. 1928 - 1941

Miep de Feijter made this charming drawing of children skating, likely in the early 20th century. The figures are outlined in ink and the artist added pale blue and black tones, with the color sparingly applied. I can imagine Feijter sketching quickly to capture the ephemeral experience of these children as they glide along the ice! I wonder if it was a bright, cold winter day? The artist has managed to convey the dynamism of their movement with great skill, the boy taking great strides with a cheeky smile, watched by two young girls. The parallel lines describing the ice below are simple but create the illusion of depth and movement. In the corner, we see a child has fallen – and here is the slapstick humor familiar from the silent movies of the era. This piece resonates with other drawings from this period – like those of George Grosz – that use wit and observation to create a vivid picture of humanity!