Twee muzikanten 1899 - 1952

Johan van Hell's Twee muzikanten, or Two Musicians, presents a pair of figures rendered in graphite or ink. You can see how the density of the medium creates a muted gray tonality. Looking at this, I imagine van Hell absorbed in the act of drawing, stepping back, squinting, then adding marks, building up these forms. It feels like he was thinking of Picasso or Léger, maybe even Beckmann but choosing to work so differently, in this muted palette. It’s so curious, the way the figures are turned away, anonymous in their hats and coats, lugging their instruments through some unidentified space. You can see how the stippling creates texture, a kind of visual hum that vibrates through the entire piece. Each tiny dot is like a note in a larger composition. I imagine him thinking about the history of printmaking, while making something completely of his time. It's such a unique way of seeing and making. It makes me want to pick up a pencil and start scribbling.