Portret van dr. H. Snellen 1874 - 1925

This is Jan Veth’s pencil drawing, 'Portret van dr. H. Snellen', currently held at the Rijksmuseum. Notice how the composition is dominated by the subject’s head and shoulders, rendered in delicate yet precise lines. The artist skillfully uses hatching and cross-hatching to build up tonal variations, giving volume and depth to the figure. Veth’s portrait engages with broader artistic concerns around representation and the psychological portrayal of the sitter. The sketch-like quality of the work invites us to consider the process of creation, revealing the artist's hand in the formation of the image. The deliberate arrangement of lines—some firm and defining, others light and suggestive—serves to highlight specific features, creating an intriguing interplay between presence and absence. It suggests the sitter's character, hinting at a complex interior life beyond mere physical likeness. This invites a continuous re-evaluation of the work, and its subject.