Kind met uitgestoken hand 1892 - 1928

Editor: Here we have "Child with outstretched hand" by Johannes Löhr, probably created sometime between 1892 and 1928. It's a pencil drawing, and it feels incredibly intimate, like a candid snapshot of a child in thought. What strikes you most about this piece? Curator: Immediately, the composition commands attention. Observe the artist's choice to position the child centrally, almost confrontational in its directness. Note how the background, rendered in dense, uniform hatching, serves not to distract but to amplify the subject. The pencil work itself exhibits remarkable control; consider the varied pressure, building tonal depth in the face while leaving the clothing and outstretched hand lighter, almost floating. Editor: It’s interesting you say that about the tonal depth because that’s what makes the child so realistic. It looks like it's emerging right out of the drawing! Why would he chose a pencil? Curator: The pencil, with its capacity for delicate gradation and fine detail, allows for the capture of subtle nuances of light and form. The medium’s inherent linearity shapes the child's face into something truly sculptural. This suggests the artist was likely more interested in studying form through controlled marks than using it to try to tell a certain story. Editor: It really does force you to see the textures and form…I guess I was bringing a narrative element to it without considering the work first. Thanks! Curator: Precisely. By focusing on these formal qualities, we can appreciate Löhr’s mastery and move beyond subjective impressions towards a more rigorous understanding of the artwork itself. Editor: Right, I'll need to remember that in my essays. Thank you!