Portret van een onbekende man 1921

Simon Moulijn made this portrait of an unknown man using graphite on paper. Looking at the man's face, I can see every line and shadow etched with care, like the artist wanted to capture not just his appearance, but something of his inner life. Those eyes seem to hold stories, maybe even a little bit of melancholy. I wonder what Moulijn was thinking as he sketched – did he know this man well? Did he imagine his history? The soft shading around the jawline gives him a kind of weary dignity, like he’s seen a thing or two. I see it as a quiet conversation between artist and subject. Each mark on the paper feels intentional, building up this sense of a life lived, a moment captured, and a connection created.