Jongen zwaait naar een bestuurder c. 1925 - 1935

A. Tinbergen created this artwork called "Jongen zwaait naar een bestuurder," or "Boy Waving to a Driver" with ink and brush on paper. I can almost see the artist hovering over the page, deciding just how much ink to put on the brush for each stroke, and how fast to move it across the page. Look at the way the lines vary in thickness. There are moments of precision in rendering the scene, and other areas which are more gestural. I imagine Tinbergen, standing back, squinting, deciding what to leave in, what to take out. It reminds me of some of the quick sketches of Daumier. The minimal use of colour focuses our attention on the relationships and interactions. The little dog in the foreground looks like a precursor to Keith Haring’s iconic dogs. Artists are always looking at each other's work, and they are in constant dialogue across time. Ultimately, this artwork invites us to consider the simple joys of everyday life and the beauty that can be found in fleeting moments of connection.