Brief aan Richard Roland Holst

This drawing, a letter by Willem van Konijnenburg to Richard Roland Holst, was made in 1924. You can see how Konijnenburg approaches the page with such fluidity, how the image feels almost like an afterthought scribbled quickly at the top. I love the raw, vulnerable quality of this piece. The lines are tentative, like he’s feeling his way through the image, searching for the right expression. Look at how the lines around the face are so delicate, yet they convey so much emotion. It's like he’s capturing a fleeting thought, a momentary feeling. The warmth of the brown ink is like a gentle embrace. The way the human and animal faces merge feels tender and intimate. It puts me in mind of Redon's dreamlike visions. Ultimately, what I find so compelling about this image is its refusal to be pinned down, it has such an understated and quiet mood, the artist is happy to just leave it hang in the air.