Twee arbeiders bij het maken van beeldjes 1881 - 1948

Herman Heijenbrock made this drawing of two workers making figurines with pencil, crayon, and charcoal on paper. What’s really cool is the way Heijenbrock has caught the light glinting off the metal jugs and casting a shadow behind the figurines, and how he’s captured the subtle tonal variations within the muted color palette to create a sense of depth and volume. I can imagine the artist in his studio, carefully observing the scene before him, trying to capture the subtle nuances of light, shadow, and form. I love the way the artist made marks to build up the figures and capture the material reality of the workshop, the tools, and the figurines themselves. It’s as if he is trying to get a handle on the feeling of the whole place. Artists are always in conversation with one another, and Heijenbrock’s commitment to observational drawing feels like a link to a long tradition of artists who have sought to capture the beauty and complexity of the world around them.