Zittende vrouw met ontblote schouder c. 1908 - 1923

Ferdinand Oldewelt made this drawing of a seated woman with an exposed shoulder, we don't know when, using pencil on paper. It’s so immediate, isn't it? You can see him thinking, almost. There’s a lovely economy to his marks. Look at how he uses simple, repetitive lines to build up tone and volume in the figure's dress – a kind of shorthand for shadow, perhaps. That hatching gives a sense of depth but also keeps things really open, and alive. The face is kind of roughly indicated, more shadow than feature. And then, there’s that bold, dark shading in the hair, which anchors the whole composition. I love how that single, decisive gesture balances the delicacy of the rest of the drawing. It reminds me a bit of some of Degas’ drawings, that same interest in capturing a fleeting moment, a certain kind of female intimacy. But Oldewelt's touch feels more direct, more vulnerable somehow. It's not about perfection, it's about the act of seeing, and the pleasure of putting something down on paper.