Jongen met pop c. 1900 - 1930

Elly Verstijnen made this drawing, Jongen met pop, using pen and ink. It's all about the line, a clear, descriptive line, but the magic is in how those lines come together to create a whole world. I love the confidence of the mark-making, there’s no room for error, yet somehow there’s still looseness to it. See how the lines vary in thickness, giving weight and shadow? Notice the little boy's hair, rendered with these quick, almost scribbled lines that capture the sense of unruly innocence. And the doll, hanging upside down – the lines here are more frantic, suggesting movement, a playful energy. There’s a simplicity to the composition, but it’s full of feeling. It reminds me of work by Quentin Blake. Verstijnen invites us to complete the story. Art is never finished, it just stops in interesting places.