Drie studies van een schaap 1876 - 1951

Theo Nieuwenhuis created these three studies of a sheep with a graphite pencil on paper. What strikes me is the casual, almost playful way he approaches the subject. It's like he’s thinking out loud with his pencil, letting the marks lead the way. There’s a real physicality to the drawing, you can see the texture of the graphite on the page. The lines are confident, but not overworked, and there’s a nice balance between the areas of dark shading and the bare paper. Look at the bottom study, how a few simple strokes capture the essence of the sheep’s form. It’s so economical, so direct. These studies remind me of Van Gogh’s drawings, that same sense of immediacy and raw energy. Both artists share a similar concern of capturing the essence of nature through direct, unpretentious mark-making, prioritizing process and expression over meticulous detail. And that’s what makes art so exciting, right? It’s not about getting it “right”, it’s about embracing the mess and seeing where it takes you.