Meisjes spelen met bal c. 1925 - 1935

Adrie Vürtheim made this drawing, called 'Meisjes spelen met bal', with ink on paper sometime in the 20th century. It's all about the line here; loose and playful, it's like she’s thinking right onto the page. The marks feel like they are searching for the form, not just describing it. Look at the tree, those lines are almost scribbled, quick flicks of the wrist, while on the figures, they define their shape, their clothing, the motion of their limbs. You can see where the ink pools a little, creating darker accents that give depth and volume. The image is almost a study in contrasts, between the activity of the girls and the passivity of the girl by the tree. It reminds me a little of some of Paula Modersohn-Becker’s drawings, though Vürtheim has a lighter, more whimsical touch. Both artists share a similar commitment to the expressive potential of line. For me, this piece is less about what is being depicted and more about the act of observation, of capturing a fleeting moment and it's a great reminder that drawing can be both a record and a conversation.