Ontwerp voor schildering Algemene Nederlandsche Diamantbewerkersbond: Vrijheid 1878 - 1938

Richard Nicolaüs Roland Holst made this design for a painting for the Dutch Diamond Workers' Union with pencil and watercolor. I’m really drawn to the way he uses color here, limiting himself to a handful of tones. The whole piece is like a study in contrasts: the figure is pale, almost ghostly, against the dark blue backdrop. The cloak has these wild zigzags and sharp edges that give it a real sense of movement. You can see the grid lines that he used to map out the design. This gives you a peek into the nuts and bolts of how the piece was constructed, the bare bones of the image. The dynamism and simplicity of this piece reminds me of Franz Marc’s color palette and simplified shapes, and how he used color to convey symbolic meaning and emotional depth. Ultimately, this work is a potent symbol of collective identity, resilience, and the enduring quest for social justice.