Twee koeien bij een hek 1905

Willem Cornelis Rip made this drawing of two cows near a fence with what looks like a graphite pencil. You can see the whole process right there on the page. The texture of the paper peeks through the drawing, which is kind of amazing. The artist leaves the marks exposed, the lines all scratchy and light, like a sketch in a notebook. I love the way Rip defines the forms of the cows with just a few simple strokes, suggesting their weight and mass without getting bogged down in details. Look at the scribbled lines that make up the trees and the fence. They're so free and loose, almost like he's just doodling. Yet, somehow, they capture the essence of the scene. It reminds me of Cy Twombly, but with cows. It's like Rip is saying, "Here's what I see, but it's up to you to fill in the blanks." Art is about possibilities, not answers.