Decoratief patroon c. 1916 - 1945

Reijer Stolk made this drawing, “Decoratief patroon”, with pencil, and what jumps out at me is how artmaking is a process. It's like thinking on paper, you know? There's something so immediate about the light gray pencil on paper. It’s like he's mapping out an idea, letting the lines lead him. I love the contrast between the rigid lines and the more organic curves. Look at the diamond shape in the middle – it's almost like a window into another dimension. Then there's the decorative lower section; there is a tension between the lines that want to be free and the need for the image to be grounded. You can feel the artist working through his thoughts, one line at a time. It reminds me a bit of some of Agnes Martin's quieter drawings, where the simplicity of the lines creates a space for contemplation. Art is so often about this kind of conversation across time, and with oneself.