The Architect 1919

Richard Nicolaüs Roland Holst made "The Architect" in the early 20th century, and it's got this really interesting blend of precision and, well, dustiness. The colors are muted, almost like looking at an old blueprint, which, in a way, we are. The texture is pretty smooth, but you can see the hand of the artist in the delicate lines and the subtle gradations of tone. Look at the architect's face, the way he's holding that miniature building so tenderly in his hands. It makes you wonder what he's dreaming of, what kind of world he's trying to build. It reminds me a bit of some Symbolist painters, like maybe a Puvis de Chavannes with a T-square. But, you know, Holst has this very Dutch, very grounded feel to him. It's like he's saying, "Yeah, we can dream big, but let's not forget the foundations." And for me, that's what art's all about – the constant tension between the ideal and the real.