Toren in de steigers 1906 - 1945

This is Reijer Stolk’s “Tower Under Scaffolding,” made with pencil on paper. The material simplicity of the drawing belies its subject, which speaks to monumental labor. Stolk’s light touch captures the heavy presence of a building under construction or repair. The scaffolding itself becomes a kind of exoskeleton, obscuring the tower while simultaneously allowing it to reach completion. The lines are tentative, the forms provisional. It gives the impression of a structure always in progress. We might consider the relationship between the hand of the artist and the hands of the unseen workers. The image prompts us to think about the process of building, the physical labor involved, and the human effort required to realize architectural visions. The drawing reminds us that even the most permanent structures are the result of ongoing work. It invites us to appreciate the often-unseen labor that shapes our built environment.