Portret van Adriaan Pit 1925

Huib Luns made this portrait of Adriaan Pit in 1925 using pen and ink on paper. It's a study in the skillful manipulation of a humble medium. The artist uses the fluidity of ink to great effect. Quick strokes suggest the sitter's tailored suit, capturing the textures of the fabric with remarkable efficiency. See how Luns varies the pressure on his pen to create lines of different weight and darkness. This imbues the drawing with a dynamic quality, as if we're seeing Pit in a fleeting moment. The artist’s chosen materials are aligned to the culture of drawing, as being instantaneous and preparatory for other works of art. Yet Luns’ technical skills are impressive, reflecting the intense labor that lies behind apparent spontaneity. This challenges hierarchies that separate drawing as a craft from painting as a fine art, celebrating the possibilities of modest means.