Jongen met pop c. 1900 - 1930

This is a line drawing, Jongen met pop, by Elly Verstijnen. It shows a boy holding a doll. I can imagine Verstijnen making the drawing, the quick, confident strokes of her pen laying down the lines. The economy of the line is striking, and the movement too. The boy is caught in a moment of quiet play, but the doll is almost dancing, limbs flailing. It’s a whimsical, playful image, but also tender and intimate. Verstijnen has captured something essential about childhood. I’m thinking about how a simple line can say so much. The curve of the boy’s cheek, the way the doll’s hair flies out. It reminds me of other drawings I’ve made, the way a line can become a feeling. I think that artists are always in conversation with each other, sharing ideas and inspiring each other’s creativity. Drawing is a way of expressing ourselves, of making sense of the world. And it’s a conversation that never ends.