Staande jongen, op de rug gezien 1906 - 1945

Reijer Stolk created this artwork, "Standing Boy, Seen From the Back" in an unknown year with etching. Observe how the human form is meticulously rendered through a dense network of lines, demonstrating Stolk's mastery of the etching technique. The composition is stark, focusing solely on the boy's figure against a hatched background which adds depth and shadow, thereby enhancing the textural richness of the skin. The choice of such a focused perspective invites contemplation on themes of vulnerability, isolation and introspection. The absence of color directs our attention to the intricate patterns of light and shadow, which sculpt the body and create a sense of tangible presence. The linear hatching, a formal element, serves to abstract the figure, turning it into a study of form and texture, inviting the viewer to decode the structural elements rather than simply observe a figurative representation. This tension between representation and abstraction destabilizes established ways of viewing the body.