Boerderijtje, voorheen aan de Ziepsche weg, Arnhem Possibly 1885 - 1889

Pieter Ras created this drawing, "Boerderijtje, voorheen aan de Ziepsche weg, Arnhem," with graphite. The sketch presents a study in contrasts and structural forms, using the starkness of graphite to capture the essence of a rustic farmhouse. Notice how the interplay of light and shadow shapes the composition, creating a sense of depth and texture. Ras's emphasis on geometric forms—the triangular roof, rectangular walls, and cylindrical barrel—reveals an interest in the underlying architecture. The lines, rendered with varying degrees of intensity, outline the structure of the barn and the objects that surround it. This focus on basic forms strips away the superficial details and explores the fundamental relationship between line, space, and object. The visible pencil strokes and the unfinished quality of the drawing suggest a process of exploration, where the artist seeks to understand and represent the essential qualities of his subject through the simplest of means. The sketch, therefore, becomes an exercise in reduction, a search for the most direct and fundamental way to represent reality.