Studies van een vrouw die in een kom roert 1892 - 1916

Rik Wouters made this series of studies of a woman stirring in a bowl with ink on paper. It looks like a simple drawing, but the marks have a real energy, and you get the sense that Wouters was really in the moment, responding to the scene in front of him. The ink is applied in quick, confident strokes, especially around the figures where the lines feel so alive. But then there are areas where the ink is more tentative and light, almost disappearing into the paper. This creates a really interesting dynamic, pushing and pulling our eye around the composition. Take a look at the hand holding the bowl. It’s just a few quick loops and flicks of the wrist, but it really feels like a hand, doesn’t it? Wouters’ work reminds me of Matisse, the way he could capture so much with so little, finding that perfect balance between representation and abstraction. It's a drawing that celebrates the joy of mark-making.