Goal I - Lucebert

A 1970 ink drawing by Dutch artist Lucebert, featuring his signature distorted, expressive figures and fluid, calligraphic line work.

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, titled Goal I and dated 1970, demonstrates his characteristic approach to figuration. The composition features two distorted, humanoid forms rendered with fluid, rapid ink lines. One figure appears to hover or float above a cylindrical pedestal, holding a circular object, while the second figure occupies the foreground with a heavily exaggerated, mask-like face.

The drawing relies on a stark contrast between the white paper ground and the dark, bleeding ink marks. Lucebert often utilised this technique to create a sense of urgency and raw energy. The figures possess a grotesque quality, typical of his later work, where human anatomy is treated as a malleable subject for psychological exploration. The lines are calligraphic, showing the speed and confidence of his hand. There is no attempt at realistic perspective or anatomical accuracy. Instead, the artist focuses on the immediate impact of the shapes and the interplay between the two subjects.

By 1970, Lucebert had moved away from the collective activities of the CoBrA group, yet his work retained the movement's focus on primal, childlike mark-making and emotional honesty. This piece functions as a study of form and character, stripped of unnecessary detail. The ink wash adds depth to the contours, suggesting volume without resorting to traditional shading. It is an example of his ability to balance humour with a sense of unease. The work remains a clear representation of his unique visual language, which sought to bypass intellectual artifice in favour of direct, visceral communication.