Jongen schaatsend langs twee meisjes c. 1928 - 1941

Here, we have Miep de Feijter’s 'Jongen schaatsend langs twee meisjes,' made using ink and watercolour. The artist’s method is wonderfully apparent, each stroke a record of a movement, capturing the joy of a winter skate with lines that wiggle and wobble. The colour palette is restricted to a black ink, used for the outlines and shading, and a pale eau-de-nil green, which gives the impression of a faded memory, like a hand-tinted photo from a family album. De Feijter’s hand is evident in the shading of the boy’s breeches, layer upon layer of black hatching that gives the sense of speed. Those vertical marks beneath the figures, though! They’re clearly not reflections, and maybe that ambivalence is the point? De Feijter's drawing recalls the work of illustrators like Quentin Blake. Both artists create worlds of whimsy and freedom. This piece reminds us that art doesn't always need to be serious or profound; sometimes, it can simply capture a fleeting moment of joy.