Schaap en een lam c. 1904 - 1906

Gerrit Willem Dijsselhof made this study of a sheep and a lamb, probably in pencil. It's a great example of how a few simple marks can evoke a whole world. I love the economy of the drawing. Look at the legs of the sheep, just a few lines, but they totally work. It's like Dijsselhof is saying, "I don't need to show you everything, just enough to get the idea across." That's a really confident approach to artmaking, knowing when to stop. The texture is smooth, not overworked. The lines are thin and delicate, giving the drawing a light, airy feeling. The blank space around the sheep and lamb is just as important as the drawing itself. It lets the figures breathe, and it creates a sense of quiet contemplation. In a way, it reminds me of some of Agnes Martin's drawings, that same sense of stillness and calm. Art is really just a conversation across generations isn't it?