Staande naakte man en vrouw 1906 - 1945

Reijer Stolk made this ink drawing titled "Standing Nude Man and Woman" at an unknown date. The loose style of the image raises questions about the role of academic institutions in shaping the artist's practice. In the Netherlands at this time, art academies often promoted traditional approaches to figure drawing and discouraged more experimental styles. But, the tension in the image stems from a desire to capture the human form in a way that reflects the modern experience, which often meant breaking from tradition. Stolk would have been aware of the debates around modernism that were circulating in the Netherlands, particularly those around expressionism. These debates shaped his artistic practice, and perhaps also his relationship to Dutch artistic institutions. By studying archival sources, such as exhibition reviews and artists’ correspondence, we can gain a deeper understanding of the social and institutional contexts that influenced the creation and reception of his art. The study of art is always contingent on historical context.