Zelfportret (met hand) Possibly 1926

This self-portrait with hand was made in 1926 by Dick Ket with graphite and charcoal on paper. I love the tonality, that brown paper as a mid-tone, with the dark and light marks layered on top – it's a tonal dance. Ket's marks are so delicate, almost like he's building up the image cell by cell, each little stroke contributing to the whole. Look closely at how he renders his face, the subtle shading around the eyes, the way he captures the light on his cheek. You can almost feel the texture of his skin. The dark strokes of charcoal give a lovely contrast, a sharpness that defines the edge of his clothing. Notice the soft blending, it's almost as though he's trying to disappear into the paper, it's all about touch, pressure, and the slow revealing of the image. Ket's attention to detail reminds me of Dürer, that Northern European precision, but with a vulnerability all its own. It's like he's inviting us into his own private world, one mark at a time.