Portret van een onbekende man 1921

Simon Moulijn made this drawing of an unknown man using graphite, sometime between 1866 and 1921. What strikes me most is the gentle touch, the hatching and cross-hatching, it’s so soft and subtle. It’s as if Moulijn is trying to get to know this man through the very act of drawing him. Look at the way the light plays across the planes of his face, the brow, the cheekbone, the tip of his nose. You can almost feel the texture of his skin, the weight of his gaze. And then there’s that tie, dark and knotted, a small, almost insignificant detail, but it anchors the whole composition. For me, it’s where all the lines converge, a focal point in a quiet and understated way. I’m reminded of other great portraitists, like Holbein, who had the same skill in capturing the inner life of their subjects. But this feels more personal, more intimate. The lack of fanfare, the plainness of the man, it is all so very touching.