So we can be free

May 2025

I've made this drawing for the spring exposition at the Waddinxveense Kunt Kring. The theme for this exposition was "free" and with this drawing I want people to think about the enormous sacrifices that were made during the second worldwar, "so we can be free".

The main subject in my drawing is the soldier in the middle, suffering from PTSD (Post-traumatic stress disorder), told by the look in his eyes, also known as the "1000 yard stare". He represents all those soldiers that survived the war, but had to live with all the horror they have seen or had to do during the war. On the right a landingsboat, packed with soldiers, heading to one of the beaches of Normandy at D-day (6 June 1944), is shown. At this place, by some described as "hell on earth", the liberation of Western Europe started. On the left side of my drawing you see two "Medics", unarmed hero's, that took care of wounded soldiers and made sure a lot of them made it home alive. The background is filled with an infinitive amount of rows with crosses on graves, like you can find them on military cemetery's. The monument on the horizon is based on the monument that can be found at the American military cemetery on Omaha Beach (Normandy).

With this drawing you can let you mind wander at every part, thinking about what those people did for us, something I had to deal with several times when I drew this. Multiple stories in one drawing that need to be kept telling, so we are not taking our current freedom for granted.

I used graphite pencils for this drawing.

Paper size: 65 x 50 cm