Portret van Daniel Krehbiel 1904

Jan Veth made this lithograph portrait of Daniel Krehbiel, sometime in the late 19th or early 20th century. I wonder if they sat together, Veth with his lithographic crayon, Krehbiel with his thoughts? The subtle gradations of tone create a wonderfully soft effect, like a faded photograph from the time. The diagonal marks of the crayon build up to create shadow and volume, especially in Krehbiel’s beard and hat. I bet Veth went back and forth, refining and adjusting the image until it emerged from the stone. You can see Veth's keen interest in the subtle interplay of light and shadow. But it’s more than just a record of a likeness; it's an exploration of form and texture. The portrait has echoes of Rembrandt’s drawings, which also sought a kind of quiet monumentality through humble means. Artists have always looked to each other for inspiration, building upon the discoveries of the past while charting new territory.