Draperiestudie van een rok 1865 - 1930

Jac van Looij sketched "Draperiestudie van een rok" using graphite, a medium which lends itself beautifully to the subtle exploration of light and shadow. Van Looij came of age in a period of significant social change. The Netherlands was beginning to grapple with its colonial past and emerging ideas about national identity. This drawing offers a peek into the process of how one creates an image of something. The graphite rendering of a draped skirt, casually slung over a chair, is seemingly humble in subject matter, but it invites us to consider the labor and gaze inherent in the act of depiction. What does it mean to study a piece of clothing so intently? The folds of fabric almost seem to hint at a hidden or absent figure. This sketch also reflects the intimate relationship between the artist and their subject. The choice of clothing as subject is poignant. The artist captures not just the form, but also the presence, perhaps, of an individual whose identity is partially revealed through their garments.