Artwork
Heart
Heart is a drawing by H.G, Wetselaar. It dates from 1970 and is held in the collection of the Leiden University Libraries. Created around 1970 by H.
About this work
Overview
Created around 1970 by H.G. Wetselaar, “Heart” is a drawing held in the collection of the Museum of Ethnography. The composition centers on a pair of hands that cradle a large, open shell, whose curving form dominates the picture plane. The work is rendered in graphite, emphasizing volume through tonal variation.
Subject & Meaning
The hands appear to support the shell gently, suggesting a protective gesture toward the interior space. The shell’s organic contours contrast with the human touch, inviting contemplation of the relationship between natural forms and human care. The title “Heart” may allude to the shell’s central cavity as a symbolic core.
Technique & Style
Wetselaar employs smooth, detailed line work to convey the shell’s texture and the folds of the hands. Subtle shading creates a three‑dimensional effect, with highlights on exposed surfaces and deeper tones in recessed areas. The drawing’s restrained palette and careful cross‑hatching build atmospheric depth without overt dramatization.
History & Provenance
The piece entered the Museum of Ethnography’s holdings shortly after its creation, though precise acquisition details remain limited. Its dating to the early 1970s places it within a period when the artist explored the interplay of organic objects and human gesture, a theme recurring in his later works.
Artist & collection
Artist
H.G. Wetselaar spent his days hunched over microscopes in a quiet Leiden lab, sketching what most people ignore. His pencil caught the raw architecture of bodies we pretend are smooth—like the knotted muscles of a…
