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

This is a pencil study of Prof Mr J.A. Veraart, made in June 1942 in London by Anton Abraham van Anrooy. Looking at this drawing, you can imagine Anrooy capturing the likeness of the sitter, erasing and redrawing lines until he got it just right. What was it like for Anrooy to create this drawing? As he built up the image with careful, intentional marks, I can imagine that he tried to capture Veraart’s essence. It’s interesting to consider how this piece relates to Van Anrooy’s broader body of work and to other portrait artists. Artists are often in dialogue, borrowing and riffing on each other’s ideas across time. This drawing reminds us that art is not just about the final product, but also about the process of creation, the conversation between artist and subject, and the ongoing exchange of ideas that inspire creativity.