Ruiters 1941

Willem van Konijnenburg's "Ruiters" is a sketch of riders on horseback made with chalk or pastel. The image shimmers into focus with ochre and grey lines against the cream of the page. Looking at this sketch, I imagine van Konijnenburg in his studio, moving around the paper, trying to get the figures just right. I see him stepping back, squinting, then leaning in to add detail. It’s a dance between intention and improvisation. The horses and riders emerge as an exploratory vision, some more defined than others, yet all marked with the same searching energy of the artist. The ochre chalk that defines the main figure lends the piece a warmth and a life. The grey lines act like a shadow or echo, pulling the eye into the space. I like how the artist leaves the other figures ghosted, it feels casual and understated. It reminds me of the way Degas would build up his compositions, searching for the right form, but unafraid to leave the process visible. It’s like the ghost of an idea haunting the final image. I think all artists are in conversation with one another, riffing off each other’s ideas. It's about embracing the journey of discovery, where the process itself becomes part of the story.