Portret van kunstenaar André Broedelet c. 1883 - 1914

Floris Arntzenius created this portrait of fellow artist André Broedelet using graphite and perhaps charcoal in a free, informal manner. The sketch, with its stark contrasts, immediately draws our attention to the subject’s face. Arntzenius employs a remarkable economy of line. Notice how the structural integrity of the portrait is maintained with minimal, yet assured strokes. The artist’s marks are economical, confidently capturing the essence of Broedelet’s likeness. The lack of precise detail invites viewers to actively engage with the image. The unfinished quality of the background intensifies our focus on the subject’s features, emphasizing the psychological dimensions of portraiture. It is through the open structure of the sketch that we can appreciate the provisional and dynamic nature of identity itself. The formal qualities of the drawing allow it to resonate beyond mere representation, becoming a meditation on the act of seeing and being seen.