Afrikaanse vrouw met een hoofddeksel met bloem c. 1916 - 1945

Reijer Stolk made this drawing of an African woman with a flowered headdress, we don't know exactly when, and its wispy lines are so full of possibility. The pencil lines here aren't about making a perfect likeness; they're more like feeling around in the dark, trying to capture a sense of the subject. See how the lines double back on themselves, searching for the right curve of a cheek or the turn of a head? It's like Stolk is thinking through the drawing, letting us watch his process unfold. I love the way the marks are so tentative, almost like a breath on the page. It’s a reminder that art isn't about having all the answers but about asking questions and exploring possibilities. This sketch reminds me a little of Matisse's line drawings – that same sense of elegant simplicity, of capturing the essence of a form with just a few strokes. Both artists understood the power of suggestion, leaving space for the viewer to fill in the blanks. Ultimately, this drawing is a testament to the beauty of imperfection and the power of suggestion.