Arabische cijfers c. 1890 - 1922

Johanna van de Kamer made this drawing of ‘Arabische cijfers,’ or Arabic numerals, sometime between the late 19th and early 20th century. Look at the way she renders each number; it’s like a little experiment in form. The numerals appear to be drawn with some kind of marker on paper. The artist uses a thin line to define the perimeter of each number and then fills them in with a grey tone. Notice the precision and attention to detail. In the number 8, the lines are carefully placed, creating a sense of depth. It’s really about how she turns something we take for granted, like numbers, into something beautiful. This piece reminds me a little of Hilma af Klint's early abstract work, which was also about finding a visual language for abstract concepts. But, of course, where Klint goes big and bold, Van de Kamer is quiet, subtle, and somehow intimate. Ultimately, art is about embracing ambiguity and multiple interpretations over fixed meanings.