Staande jongen met lange stok 1835

Ary Johannes Lamme created this drawing titled ‘Standing Boy with Long Stick’ using pen in gray and brush in gray. The composition is immediately striking for its subtle yet effective use of tonal variations. The artist employs a limited palette, focusing on shades of gray to model the figure and create depth against the muted background. Notice how Lamme uses the starkness of the gray to emphasize the boy's form, particularly the way his clothing folds and drapes. The long stick, held almost casually, acts as a vertical axis that bisects the composition, drawing our eye from the top to the base of the figure. The choice of such a restricted palette pushes us to consider the drawing’s structure—how line and shadow are skillfully used to create a sense of volume and presence. The boy's stance, slightly off-center, adds a dynamic tension to the piece, suggesting movement within a static form. This interplay between form and space invites us to contemplate the underlying structure that gives the artwork its visual strength.