Studieblad met schapen te Exloo c. 1904 - 1912

Ferdinand Oldewelt made this study sheet of sheep in Exloo using graphite on paper. The lines are quick, searching, like he’s trying to capture the essence of sheep-ness in a hurry. It's like a visual shorthand, a language of marks standing in for fluffy bodies. I’m drawn to the bottom right sheep, where Oldewelt has built up the shading on its head. See how the lines are layered, almost scribbled, giving a sense of the wool's texture? It's not about perfect representation, it's about the feeling of wool, the weight of the animal. The drawing reminds me a bit of Constantin Guys, that 19th-century chronicler of modern life. Both artists share this interest in capturing fleeting moments, using line and tone to evoke the atmosphere of a place, or the character of their subjects. They also show us that art isn’t about copying the world, but about translating it through a personal vision.