Drie kinderen kijkend naar een rennende hond c. 1932

Elly Verstijnen made this small drawing, "Three Children Watching a Running Dog," with ink on paper. The scene evokes childhood innocence and carefree play. Here, we see three children captivated by the energetic movement of a dog. Verstijnen emphasizes the dog’s exuberance through its dynamic posture and the whimsical hat it wears, which gives the dog a distinct personality, while the children, seen from the back, are rendered with a simplicity that mirrors the clarity of a child’s view of the world. The clothing of the children may give us insight into their social position, however the lack of detail invites us to focus on the universal experience of childhood wonder. The scene feels fleeting, as if capturing a memory just as it begins to fade. This artwork reminds us of the simple joys in life.