Voeten van een vrouw die hakken draagt 1919

These studies of women's feet in heels by Reijer Stolk at the Rijksmuseum were made in pencil, and are a brilliant example of the way an artist's mind works. Look at how the lines are so light, barely there, like the artist is thinking aloud on paper. You can almost see him circling the subject, trying to capture the essence of a pose, the curve of a heel, the way a foot arches in a shoe. The image in the lower left is really fascinating, like he's trying to capture the crowd as a whole, but it's kind of faded and confusing. There's a real energy here, a sense of searching and discovery. It reminds me of Degas, his endless studies of dancers, always trying to capture that elusive moment of grace. It's a reminder that art is never really finished, it's just a process of constant exploration and experimentation.