Portret van Kees Cath 1976

Rein Dool made this print, Portret van Kees Cath, in 1995. I love the way the pencil or charcoal strokes build up the form. It reminds me that making art is a journey, not just a destination. Look at how Dool uses the texture of the paper, letting it peek through the drawing. The lines aren't precious; they're more about feeling than perfect accuracy. The whole thing has a raw, honest quality. It’s like a snapshot of a thought in progress. Notice the way the dark scribbles around the head contrast with the open space of the page. It gives the figure weight and presence. Dool's work reminds me a bit of Philip Guston's late drawings – that same kind of searching, vulnerable line. To me, art is always a conversation, and it’s exciting to see how artists like Dool keep the dialogue going.