T80-36 1980

Johannes Jan Schoonhoven made this artwork, T80-36, with ink on paper. The apparent simplicity of its materials invites us to consider the labour involved in its making, and the aesthetic choices made. Look closely, and you will notice that this is not just a haphazard set of ink lines but a meticulous construction of chaotic marks. Its texture is a result of repeated gestures, a kind of obsessive mark-making that echoes both the automatic techniques of the Surrealists and the industrial processes of mass production. This piece invites us to contemplate what distinguishes a drawing from mere doodles. Is it the deliberate arrangement, the controlled chaos, or perhaps the artist's intent? Ultimately, Schoonhoven challenges the conventional boundaries between the expressive potential of drawing and the repetitive nature of labor. This simple piece of paper becomes a site of tension between freedom and constraint, highlighting how materials, process, and context come together to create meaning.