Staand mannelijk naakt in de golven 1878 - 1938

Richard Nicolaüs Roland Holst made this drawing of a nude man, presumably with graphite on paper, although it could be charcoal. You can feel the hand of the artist here. The lines are tentative, searching for a form. There's a real sense of process, like watching someone think through drawing. I love the way he captures the light and shadow with just a few strokes. It's like he's sculpting with the pencil, creating depth and volume. The figure emerges from the paper, but there is still a lack of definition, as if he is appearing from nothing. The cross hatching that defines the underarm and abdomen have a real physical presence on the page. It also emphasizes that art is about making, a real physicality of the medium. It reminds me a little of Rodin’s drawings – not so much in style, but in the way that it’s about capturing movement and emotion. Both artists understood that art is an ongoing conversation, embracing ambiguity and change rather than closure.