Rechterarm en bovenlichaam van een vrouw 1904

Richard Nicolaüs Roland Holst made this drawing of a woman’s arm and torso with graphite on paper. It’s all about the process here; the artist seems to be working out his ideas, trying to capture the way the light falls. I'm drawn to the delicate lines that define the contours of the arm, so precise, yet so tentative. You can almost feel the artist’s hand moving across the paper, searching for the right form. Notice how the artist hasn’t laboured over the details, but instead, he has focused on the essence of the subject. The drawing has a certain lightness of touch, like a whisper. There is a confidence in the way the artist has chosen to leave certain areas undefined. This reminds me of the drawings of Paula Modersohn-Becker, who was also interested in the human form, and in capturing a sense of inner life. Art is like a conversation, always evolving, always responding to what has come before. There’s no right or wrong way to see this piece, it invites you to bring your own experiences.