Ontwerp voor raam in het Noordertransept in de Dom te Utrecht c. 1934

This is a study for a stained glass window in Utrecht Cathedral, made by Richard Nicolaüs Roland Holst, though the date is unknown. It's all about process, you can really see the artist working through his ideas. The drawing has this incredible texture, like velvet, and the colours are muted, earthy tones. The design is divided up by bold lines like lead, mapping out the segments of coloured glass. I like the way the hands that hold the bowl seem both strong and delicate. See the way the red of the bowl is the most saturated colour in the piece, it’s like a focal point, a drop of blood. Holst reminds me of artists like Paula Modersohn-Becker, who were also exploring themes of symbolism. Art is so often about embracing ambiguity, allowing for multiple readings and associations.