Vrouwen 1890 - 1931

Willem Bastiaan Tholen made this page of sketches, called 'Vrouwen,' probably in a notebook, using ink or pencil. It's like we're looking over the artist's shoulder as he tries to capture these figures. I can almost feel him, quickly sketching, trying to get the essence of each woman down on paper. Look how the women are drawn with very little detail! This gives the artwork an informal, immediate feeling. I imagine Tholen might have been fascinated by the way these women moved, stood, and interacted. You can sense him working through all the different possibilities, trying to find the right mark to convey his impression. Artists like Tholen are always looking, always learning from those who came before, and experimenting with new ways of seeing. Every painting is a conversation, a response to the world and to other artists. It’s through this process of trial and error, this embrace of uncertainty, that new ideas emerge, and that’s what makes art so exciting.