Portret van Cornelis Hofstede de Groot 1874 - 1925

Jan Veth made this portrait of Cornelis Hofstede de Groot around 1920 using graphite on paper. The swift lines capture the essence of the sitter, cigarette in mouth, with remarkable economy. Consider the nature of graphite: a mineral form of carbon, it leaves a mark through the simple act of friction. The artist uses the side of the graphite to create tone and shadow. The paper itself bears the grid lines of a manufactured page, grounding this work of art within the everyday world of production. The efficiency of graphite as a medium, combined with the mass production of paper, speaks to a democratization of art materials, in contrast to the laborious and costly methods of previous eras. Veth's artistry lies in harnessing these humble materials to create an intimate portrayal, blurring the lines between the fine arts and more accessible modes of creative expression.