Figuren op het strand van Scheveningen c. 1916

Reijer Stolk made this drawing of figures on a beach, likely en plein air, with graphite on paper. The thing that grabs me about this piece is the way the artist's hand really explores the scene, capturing a sense of movement and life. Look at how Stolk uses hatching to build up tone and volume. See, for example, the darker shaded areas in the top left and how this creates a sense of depth and form. These marks are confident, even playful. They are not trying to trick you into believing that this is anything other than a drawing, and in its honesty, the image conveys so much. The image reminds me of some of the sketches made by Van Gogh when he was learning to draw. It's like we're seeing Stolk thinking on paper, and that's a pretty cool thing to witness. Ultimately, this drawing invites us to embrace the beauty of imperfection and the endless possibilities of mark-making.