Decoratieve patronen met vogels, bloemen, cirkels en driehoeken c. 1916 - 1945

Reijer Stolk made these decorative patterns with pencil, sometime before 1945. I love the open notebook format—it’s like peeking into an artist’s mind. The whole page becomes a field of experimentation where different ideas meet, collide, and transform into something new. You can see Stolk working through various motifs here, like the birds, flowers, circles, and triangles mentioned in the title. I imagine him sitting in his studio, sketchbook in hand, letting his imagination run wild. He's using the page to develop his ideas, refine his technique, and explore new possibilities. I wonder if the note about 'Nigeria, geen borders' refers to inspiration he found in West African art. You can see how the marks are made quickly, confidently, and with a real sense of play. The artist isn’t afraid to make mistakes, to try new things, or to push the boundaries of what’s possible. The act of drawing is, for me, a way of thinking through making. You can see the artist figuring things out as he goes. Ultimately, all creative acts build on each other, and artists are constantly borrowing, stealing, and remixing ideas to generate new work.