Thursday, November 29, 2012

again drawings (2): notre dame des anges and hans holbein

notre dame des anges, hand on heart ~ frank waaldijk
notre dame des anges, hand on heart (own work, 2012, 30 x 21 cm, click on the image for an enlargement)

notre dame des anges in blue dress ~ frank waaldijk
notre dame des anges in blue dress (own work, 2012, 30 x 21 cm, click on the image for an enlargement)

woman texting on the bed at night ~ frank waaldijk
woman texting on the bed at night (own work, 2011, 30 x 21 cm, click on the image for an enlargement)

what could be an artist's motivation to draw, in such quantities too? being an artist used to be a living :-), which raises the possibility that drawing is a money scheme :-). there are those who like to demystify the great artists of the past in this way. one of those great artists in my eyes is hans holbein the younger. i have never seen any work of his which did not cause me to pause in my tracks. the drawing below was made in 1526, but looks as fresh and poignant as if made today.

the strikingly demure pose, the colouring, well everything really...goes to show that drawing is not a money scheme but a deep inner compulsion to express, to portray, to touch upon the world especially also in the non-visible layers, through visual means.


hans holbein the younger, portrait of anna meyer
hans holbein the younger, portrait of anna meyer (1526)

and what about letting yourself be portrayed in this fashion? does that not show deep respect for the artist?

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