Figuur met gespreide armen - Lucebert

A raw, expressive ink drawing by Dutch CoBrA artist Lucebert, featuring a solitary figure beneath a dark, circular form.

Lucebert, born Lubertus Jacobus Swaanswijk, was a central figure in the Dutch post-war avant-garde. As a poet and painter, he operated within the CoBrA movement, which prioritised spontaneous expression and a rejection of traditional aesthetic constraints. This work, dated 7 July 1963, demonstrates his characteristic approach to drawing: a blend of raw, childlike mark-making and existential urgency.

The composition is dominated by a large, dark, circular form suspended in the upper portion of the paper. Below this, a solitary figure with outstretched arms stands amidst a series of vertical, ink-washed shapes. The figure is rendered with minimal, jagged lines, suggesting a sense of vulnerability or isolation. The surrounding forms appear almost like monoliths or abstract vegetation, created through heavy ink application and splatters that contrast with the precise, thin lines of the central character.

Lucebert often utilised ink to explore themes of human fragility and the absurdity of the modern condition. His technique here relies on the interplay between controlled line work and the fluid, unpredictable nature of ink wash. The date and signature are integrated into the lower right, maintaining the immediacy of the sketch. This piece offers a clear view into the artist's method of working quickly to capture a psychological state rather than a literal representation. The lack of colour focuses the viewer on the tension between the heavy, dark masses and the stark white space of the paper, creating a stark, graphic quality that is typical of his mid-career output. It is a direct, unadorned example of his graphic practice, reflecting the raw energy that defined his contribution to European modernism.