De vrouw van Wilhelmus Johannes Steenhoff, tekenend bij de Koenermolen 1873 - 1932

Wilhelmus Johannes Steenhoff made this drawing with graphite, depicting a woman sketching near the Koenermolen. The artist isn’t trying to fool us with any kind of trickery. Instead, he uses humble materials and a straightforward approach, letting us in on his process. The surface of the paper is visible beneath the marks, which are rapidly applied. See how the graphite lines vary from light to dark, creating a sense of form and depth? Look at the lines that describe the woman’s figure, they're so simple, yet so full of expression! It's as if Steenhoff is saying, "Here, let me show you how I see the world.” This feels like a drawing by Manet, maybe because of the seeming ease of the mark making. But I wonder, how long did this drawing really take?