Bomen zonder blad 1939 - 2009

Kees Stoop made this drawing of bare trees, in graphite perhaps, at an unknown date. It's a study in seeing, for sure, in the way the marks build up to describe the trees without any grandstanding. There is a humility to this sketch; it's not trying to be a big statement. The graphite is layered to create a textured surface, a kind of visual buzz that almost vibrates, which is quite a feat for a drawing. See how the strokes are like quick, glancing touches, building density? There's a real attention to the material quality of the graphite, how it can be smudged and layered to create depth. Notice the rhythm of the lines, their nervous energy, especially in the foreground; it reminds me of Twombly's scribbles. It makes me think about what it means to look closely and to find beauty in the ordinary, in the simple act of mark-making, a dialogue across time.