Slapende jongen in bed c. 1932

This ink drawing of a boy sleeping in bed was made by Elly Verstijnen, we don't know when. See how Verstijnen uses looping lines to suggest the curve of the pillow and the soft folds of the blanket? It's like she's mapping out a dreamscape with each stroke. And those little details, like the bedside table with the medicine bottle, it's what gives the image such a tangible quality. The starkness of the ink gives the image a strange kind of clarity, the stark black lines capturing a simple but very relatable scene. It's funny, this drawing reminds me of some of the illustrations by Quentin Blake, especially in the way it captures the energy of a moment with such simple, almost scribbled lines. Ultimately, I think that this drawing is more than just an illustration. It's a meditation on the quiet, intimate moments of our lives.