Kamer van C.N. Storm van 's-Gravesande op de Nieuwe Parklaan te Den Haag 1905

Carel Nicolaas Storm van 's-Gravesande made this drawing of his room on the Nieuwe Parklaan in The Hague with black chalk. It's amazing how a single color can create such depth. You can really see the hand of the artist here. The texture of the chalk gives everything a soft, almost dreamy quality. Look at the way the light from the lamp scatters, turning solid objects into shadowy suggestions. I’m drawn to the little table between the chairs—the way it holds those books and papers, promising an untold story. The fireplace and mantlepiece with the clutter of pictures suggests a life well lived, filled with memories. This feels like a precursor to some of the interiors of Vuillard, intimate and personal. Both artists embrace the ambiguity of their chosen medium, preferring to evoke a feeling rather than provide a clear depiction. They remind us that art doesn’t have to be about answers, but about opening up spaces for contemplation.