Portret van een zittende man, mogelijk Jacob van Hall 1838 - 1887

Frederik Hendrik Weissenbruch created this drawing of a seated man, possibly Jacob van Hall, using graphite. The portrait is defined by its delicate lines and subdued tonality. The composition is structured around a subtle grid. This underlying structure, barely visible, provides a framework for the figure, grounding the sitter while also abstracting the space around him. The artist skillfully uses the pencil medium to evoke a sense of texture and depth. Note the way the cross-hatching defines the folds of the sitter’s clothing and the gentle gradations of light and shadow across his face. This work challenges traditional portraiture by revealing the artist's process. The grid becomes a self-referential sign, drawing attention to the artifice of representation itself. It reminds us that what we are seeing is not a direct transcription of reality but a carefully constructed image, mediated through the artist's hand and intellect.