Portret van een man c. 1922 - 1925

This is a portrait of a man by Otto Verhagen, made with graphite on paper. The piece captures a sense of quiet observation through its delicate mark-making. Look at the way Verhagen uses layers of fine lines to build up the tones and textures of the man’s face. See how the shading around the eyes creates depth, while the lighter strokes suggest the subtle curve of the cheek. The collar and tie are barely there, just sketched out, so we know this is more about the face, the character. The magic here is in the process, in the way the artist coaxes the image out of the paper. The physicality of the graphite, its ability to smudge and blend, lends the portrait a softness that’s really compelling. It’s like the artist is feeling their way around the subject, searching for the essence of this person. I’m reminded of Lucian Freud’s drawings – that same intensity of looking, that commitment to capturing the raw and unvarnished truth. Ultimately, it reminds me that art is a conversation, always building on what came before.