Drie zittende figuren 1872 - 1931

Willem de Zwart sketched these figures with pencil on paper. Look at that soft graphite. I imagine de Zwart sitting in a cafe, quickly trying to capture the scene before him. It's amazing how much he conveys with so few lines. I mean, it is very hard to make something look relaxed and natural, it takes work. You can see how the pencil lines build up, creating shadows and volume, especially in the clothing and the way the hats sit on their heads. But each gesture is light, exploratory, and full of life. I’d guess de Zwart was looking at Daumier, or maybe even Manet. Ultimately, de Zwart reminds us that drawing is a way of seeing and thinking – an intimate conversation between the artist and the world. And, that, in the end, is what connects us, generation after generation.