Figuurstudies 1883 - 1922

Here we see a sketchbook page by Johanna van de Kamer, with what looks like graphite. I love how she's captured these fleeting impressions. It feels like she’s thinking through the forms and gestures, not aiming for a perfect likeness but more interested in the process of seeing. There’s an openness to the lines, they almost float on the page, not quite committing to a definite shape. I notice how the marks vary in weight and pressure, some lines are so faint they’re barely there, while others have a darker, more assertive presence. Look closely at the way she renders the eyes - they’re like tiny pools of concentrated energy. It reminds me a little of Paula Modersohn-Becker’s drawings, that same search for an authentic expression through simple means. These types of works leave space for interpretation, inviting you to complete the image in your own mind.