Portret van Dirk Hidde Nijland met jas over de arm 1925

Simon Moulijn made this pencil drawing, "Portret van Dirk Hidde Nijland met jas over de arm" at an unknown date. It's a dance of light and shadow. Moulijn coaxes form from the flat page through a patient accumulation of tiny marks, that feels like meditation. The texture is incredible. Look at the hatching that models the form of the jacket, a web of graphite lines each distinct yet unified. The soft shading of Nijland's face contrasts beautifully with the crisp lines of his clothing, creating a sense of depth and dimension. It's like watching a sculptor build form with strokes of light. The area around the eyes is particularly detailed, those tiny marks revealing the character's personality. Moulijn's portrait reminds me of the drawings of Lucian Freud. Both artists possess the capacity to render not just a likeness, but a palpable sense of presence. Art is an act of conversation, isn't it? An exchange between the artist, the subject, and ultimately, us, the viewers.