Portretstudies voor het (onvoltooide) schilderij van de Nederlandse rechtbank in Londen, juni 1942: Prof Mr J.A. Veraart Possibly 1942 - 1946

This is a study for a painting, made in June 1942 by Anton Abraham van Anrooy, using graphite on paper. You can see how the artist has worked over the lines again and again, especially around the face, searching for the right form. That process is what gives the drawing its special quality for me. The artist has clearly focused on the face and hands. There's a lovely contrast between the softer, smudged shading of the clothing and the more defined lines of the face. Look how the shadow under the chin is created by dense, energetic marks, which give it a real sense of depth. It's like the artist is thinking through the drawing, letting the marks build up to create the final image. I see a connection here to the work of Lucian Freud, in that both artists share a similar focus on the human form and a willingness to expose the process of their artmaking. And that’s what it’s all about, isn’t it? Allowing the viewer to witness the act of creation itself, not just the finished product.