Japans beeldje 1943

Jan Petrus Ponstijn made this work, Japans beeldje, which translates to Japanese figurine, using a graphic technique on paper. The way the artist renders this sculpture has this unfinished feel, right? A sense of process, where the under-drawing is part of the finished work. The texture feels really immediate. Look at the bottom right-hand corner, where some of the drawing seems to be coming apart. It’s like the image is disintegrating before our very eyes! There is this beautiful graphic quality created by the scratching, which creates an incredible contrast to the smooth paper. I love how the artist isn’t trying to hide the history of the piece, instead, they are revealing all the decisions that went into its making. There is something so intimate about the piece, it reminds me of the etchings of James Ensor, where there is a great sense of freedom in the artists’ approach to line making. It’s almost as if we are catching a glimpse into the artist's private sketchbook, allowing us to be a part of their creative process.