Foto uit archief Philip Zilcken after 1914

This photograph from the Philip Zilcken archive, by an unknown artist, presents us with a sketched portrait, probably of a military man. The monochromatic palette gives it a timeless feel, but it’s the sketchiness that really grabs me. The image almost feels like a ghostly apparition, and it’s this combination of delicacy and precision that’s really striking. The thin lines create a sense of depth, particularly around the face, with the barest hint of shadow and expression. The hat with the skull and crossbones is a bold touch, the artist uses the lines to great effect to convey the weight and texture of the uniform. It’s a bit like a drawing by Alfred Kubin, there's a similar sense of the macabre and grotesque, filtered through a kind of meticulous, obsessive detail. Ultimately, this image resists any easy categorization. It’s a reminder that art is often about asking questions rather than providing answers, embracing the multiple ways of seeing and interpreting the world around us.