Decoratief patroon c. 1916 - 1945

Reijer Stolk made this decorative pattern with pencil on paper; it looks like a plan for something bigger. You can see the under-drawing, the ghost of the idea before it was fully formed, and the shapes are labeled in Dutch with colour notes; "Blauw" for blue and "Wit" for white. I love the way the pencil marks feel so tentative, like Stolk is thinking out loud with his hand. The lines wobble and overlap, creating a sense of movement and energy. There's a realness to that, right? That making art is about trying things out, seeing what works, and not being afraid to make mistakes. The composition is divided by diagonal lines, forming bands that create a sense of depth and perspective. Within these bands, Stolk plays with organic shapes and abstract motifs, balancing structure with playful improvisation. Looking at this piece makes me think of Hilma af Klint’s preparatory sketches, both artists using drawing as a way to explore the relationships between form, color, and meaning. It’s a reminder that art is an ongoing conversation across time, an embrace of ambiguity and multiple interpretations.