Hoofd van een onbekende man met pet c. 1883

Editor: So, this is "Head of an Unknown Man with Cap," a pencil drawing from around 1883, currently at the Rijksmuseum. There's a quiet dignity to this face. It’s a humble portrait, very delicate. What stands out to you when you look at it? Curator: Well, immediately, I'm struck by the intimacy. It’s almost as if we're peering into the artist's sketchbook. I wonder, did Tichon know this man? Or was this a fleeting glimpse, transformed into art? The cap...it speaks to a certain practicality, a working man perhaps? And yet, there's a sensitivity in the lines, particularly around the eyes, that suggests a story untold. It feels like the ghost of a conversation hangs in the air. Do you sense that too? Editor: Absolutely. The details in the shading around his eyes really give him character, a certain wisdom or weariness. Curator: Exactly. And it's all achieved with such minimal strokes. A masterclass in suggestion, wouldn’t you say? Think of all the stories he might have carried, and all we get is this quiet profile, etched in pencil. Isn’t it magnificent? Makes you want to grab your own pencil, doesn’t it? Editor: It really does. I'm definitely looking at pencil drawings differently now. Curator: Good. That’s the magic of art, isn’t it? Shifting your perspective, making you see the world with fresh eyes. Editor: This was such an interesting observation, I can't wait to use pencil again! Curator: My pleasure entirely!