Twee jongens in een slaapruimte met stapelbedden before 1953

Hans Borrebach made this drawing, "Two boys in a sleeping area with bunk beds," with ink and watercolor on paper, and it’s all about the power of a simple line. Look at how the delicate lines define the figures and the space. The limited color palette—mostly blues and whites—gives the work a cool, airy feel, like a hazy summer day. Notice the way the artist uses thin washes of watercolor to create shadows and depth, especially in the bunk beds. These translucent layers invite a sense of openness, where things are not clearly defined. Now, focus on the face of the boy on the right. The artist uses a few delicate strokes to suggest his expression, leaving much to our imagination. It reminds me of Alex Katz, who also captures so much with so little. In both artists, it’s like they’re saying, "Here's a suggestion, now you fill in the rest." Which, really, is what art is all about.