Staande figuur 1906 - 1945

Reijer Stolk made this work, *Standing Figure,* using graphite on paper. The quick, light strokes are typical of a preliminary sketch. Even in a seemingly simple drawing like this, the material and the process behind it are key. Graphite, readily available and easily manipulated, allows for quick studies and explorations of form. The softness of the graphite enables the artist to capture the nuances of the human figure with varying degrees of pressure, suggesting depth and volume with the bare minimum of marks. The texture of the paper, too, plays a role; its slight toothiness grabs the graphite, creating subtle variations in line quality. Consider how this immediacy contrasts with the laborious processes often associated with traditional art forms like painting or sculpture. Stolk's drawing embraces spontaneity, capturing a fleeting moment with minimal intervention. This approach challenges notions of artistic value based solely on skill or complexity, and it encourages us to appreciate the beauty found in simplicity and directness.