In this elegant and arresting trois crayons drawing, André Romijn once again demonstrates his masterful command of classical technique infused with contemporary vitality. The subject—a poised ballerina—emerges from the muted blue-toned paper with a striking clarity, built from the restrained yet expressive palette of black, sanguine, and white chalk.
Romijn’s control of the medium is evident in the subtle layering of tones that sculpt the dancer’s face and neck with soft luminosity. The interplay between warm sanguine highlights and cool shadows evokes not only volume, but a sense of inner light—capturing the tension between strength and vulnerability, so characteristic of the dancer’s art. The upward gaze and turned neck impart a sense of anticipation, grace, and discipline. One feels the silent energy, the held breath before movement.
The background remains understated, allowing the figure to breathe within the space while heightening the drawing’s sculptural quality. The ballerina’s expression, both contemplative and distant, lends the piece an emotional resonance, as though the viewer has glimpsed an intimate moment of reflection or resolve.
Stylistically, this work echoes the 18th-century French academic tradition while feeling unmistakably contemporary in its clarity and focus. The crisp draftsmanship and atmospheric use of paper tone situate Romijn’s ballerina as both a study in form and a character in narrative.
A hallmark of the trois crayons technique is its ability to suggest life with limited means, and Romijn does precisely that—balancing precision with softness, anatomy with emotion. This drawing does not merely represent a dancer; it embodies the silent poetry of dance itself.
