Marguérite

Jan Toorop made this artwork, Marguérite, with pastel and pencil on paper. Pastels are interesting things. Made from pure pigment, held together with just enough binder to form a stick. They allow for a directness of touch, almost like drawing with pure color. Toorop has used them here in a subtle, almost ethereal way. See how the colors blend softly, creating a dreamlike atmosphere. The marks are not concealed, but left open, revealing the hand of the artist. The support of paper is also important. It's a humble material, yet it allows for a level of detail that would be difficult to achieve on canvas. The texture of the paper itself becomes part of the artwork, adding to its delicate quality. It is this attention to the process and materials that invites us to look beyond the surface. It encourages us to appreciate the skill and labor involved in the making, blurring any lines we might draw between art and craft.