Portret van Johan Braakensiek Possibly 1926

This is a pencil portrait of Johan Braakensiek by Nicolaas van der Waay. Look at the way that he has held the pencil, making short, careful marks, building up tone and texture. I can imagine him, the artist, working slowly, carefully observing the sitter. The surface of the paper is quite delicate, not too thick or heavy. You can see the softness of the pencil, the gentle layering and the subtle tonal variations that create a sense of depth and volume. The way Van der Waay has captured Braakensiek’s likeness, the expression in his eyes, and the way he holds his pipe, gives you a sense of the sitter's character. The artist is in conversation with his subject, with us, and with all the artists who came before him, working away with a pencil and building up tone, line, and texture. This is a quiet artwork, but with the weight of art history behind it.