Jongen gooit een sneeuwbal richting een hond 1892 - 1947

Gijsbertus Johannes van Overbeek made this drawing of a boy throwing a snowball at a dog with pen and ink on paper. The cross-hatching and detail really reminds me of early 20th century illustration, there's a precision to the lines which create the forms and textures of the buildings, trees and the dog's fur. Look closely at the texture of the tree bark; it feels as though you could reach out and touch it. The artist has carefully built up the image using very simple marks, letting the density of the ink describe the play of light and shadow in the snowy scene. There’s something about the use of black and white that heightens the sense of drama in this playful moment. I am put in mind of the work of Aubrey Beardsley, who used pure line in such a striking way. But the subject matter of Van Overbeek's piece makes it feel more wholesome, the image is charming and nostalgic rather than decadent or sinister. It celebrates the everyday, turning a simple scene into something special.