Portret van een onbekende man 1888

This is Karl Meunier’s “Portrait of an Unknown Man,” a drawing of modest dimensions. The sepia tones of the drawing and the rough edges of the paper create an intimate viewing experience. Meunier uses hatching and cross-hatching to describe the face and form of the subject. The composition is classically simple. The face is presented in a three-quarter view, softly modeled. His face is framed by shadow and light and set against a neutral ground. But look closer and you see the artist’s concern with the structural integrity of the image. This is not just a portrait; it's an exploration of form. The lines create an interplay between light and shadow, between the face and the implied space surrounding it. The face emerges from the ground with tonal modulations. The drawing is a play of line and tone, where the interplay of dark and light defines not just the form but also the emotional depth of the portrait. Meaning comes from the very structure of the artwork.