Zyn Edelachtbare "Had je me maar" maakt toilet voor de raadzitting 1921

Willem van Schaik created this tiny drawing of a man grooming himself in front of a mirror; it's all about the act of self-presentation, and maybe even a little bit about vanity. I can imagine Van Schaik working quickly, decisively, to capture the scene with a sense of immediacy. It feels like a spontaneous sketch, a moment observed and translated onto paper with minimal fuss. I wonder if he was trying to capture a deeper truth about human nature, our quirks, and rituals. There’s a lot of dark humor in the observation of the figure's reflection, too. The lines are scratchy and quick, not at all labored, and the artist's hand is so evident. I love the way the image comes to life through the marks – there's a real pleasure in the physicality of the medium. Looking closely, it almost feels like Van Schaik is in conversation with other artists, playfully riffing on themes of identity, appearance, and the stories we tell ourselves. It's not about perfection, but about the messy, contradictory nature of life.