Figure 

Rik Wouters created this drawing, titled "Figure", using what appears to be charcoal or a similar medium. The initial impression is one of stark simplicity, achieved through a minimal palette and rapid, expressive lines. The figure is captured in a seated position, with a bold diagonal stroke defining the legs and a cluster of marks suggesting a bouquet of flowers. This composition uses the interplay between positive and negative space. Wouters challenges traditional representation. Rather than a detailed rendering, the figure emerges from the interaction of lines, evoking a sense of movement and impermanence. Consider the semiotic implications here: the sketch operates as a sign, where simplified forms stand in for complex realities. The visible strokes are indexical, providing evidence of the artist’s hand and process. Through this seemingly simple sketch, Wouters prompts viewers to question the boundaries between representation and abstraction. The drawing destabilizes our expectations of form and meaning. It remains a dynamic site for interpretation, inviting ongoing dialogue about the nature of art and perception.