Jongen aait een werkpaard 1892 - 1947

Gijsbertus Johannes van Overbeek made this drawing of a boy petting a workhorse with pen on paper, but the date is unknown. The mark-making here is so detailed, it's almost like Van Overbeek is trying to capture every hair on that horse! Look at how the lines vary in thickness and direction, creating depth and texture. It's a reminder that even with something as simple as pen and ink, you can achieve incredible nuance. I think what’s interesting to me is how the everyday, the mundane, can become something beautiful through art. The artist really makes you feel the connection between the boy and the horse. Van Overbeek reminds me of Käthe Kollwitz, another artist who found beauty and dignity in the lives of ordinary people. And like Kollwitz, Van Overbeek invites us to see the world with new eyes, to appreciate the simple moments that make up our lives. Art isn't just about pretty pictures. It's about seeing, feeling, and connecting.