Nieuwjaarswens voor 1938 van Lout en Paul Varekamp 1937

This New Year's card for 1938 was made in ink on paper by an anonymous artist, and it's got this direct, heartfelt quality to it. The whole thing is built from these confident, graphic lines, forming a ship at sea. I love how the artist uses line to create texture and form. Look at the waves, for example; each stroke feels so intentional, giving the water this dynamic energy. The sails are filled with closely drawn lines, giving a sense of depth and volume, but it's all so simple, so reduced to its essence. The palm trees in the background could almost be any kind of vegetation. This piece reminds me of the drawings of Philip Guston – not in style, but in its willingness to embrace the awkward, the unrefined, to find beauty in the everyday. It’s a reminder that art isn't about perfection; it's about expression, about sharing a bit of ourselves with the world, warts and all.