Studie van een man, wijdbeens zittend, ten voeten uit 1892 - 1916

Rik Wouters made this ink drawing of a man sitting with his legs spread sometime in the early 20th century. The washes of ink build the forms up with this incredible sense of immediacy. I can imagine Wouters’s hand moving quickly, trying to capture the essence of the pose with as few strokes as possible. Look at the way he indicates the shadows under the legs and arms. What do you think the man is thinking? Is he tired, bored, or simply posing? The man’s posture is relaxed, legs open in a wide V. The strokes almost dance, capturing the weight and volume of the figure with the barest economy. This reminds me a little of some of Matisse’s drawings, where a single line can describe a whole world of feeling. This piece shows how artists learn from and respond to each other across time, and how each new gesture builds upon what came before, keeping the conversation going.