Figuurstudies 1883 - 1922

Johanna van de Kamer made this study of figures using graphite on paper. I love these kinds of sketches, they're like a painter's thought process made visible. You can see van de Kamer working through ideas, trying out different angles, capturing fleeting expressions. I imagine her in her studio, quickly sketching these figures, maybe children or passersby, trying to capture their essence with a few simple lines. I feel like I’m sitting with her, watching her work. It reminds me of other artists who use drawing as a way to explore and understand the world. It’s like they're all in conversation with each other across time, each adding their voice to the ongoing dialogue of art. And it’s all about keeping that conversation open, resisting fixed meanings, and embracing the messy, beautiful ambiguity of it all.