Zittend man met bontmuts 1809 - 1841

Joannes Bemme made this drawing, 'Sitting Man with Fur Cap,' sometime in the late 18th or early 19th century. The composition centers on a seated figure, rendered in delicate strokes of black chalk. The man's contemplative posture, emphasized by his hand touching his face, immediately draws us into a world of introspection. Bemme's technique expertly uses line and shadow to suggest the texture and volume of the man’s fur cap and draped clothing. This is not just a portrait, but an exploration of form and texture. Consider how the strategic use of hatching builds depth, particularly in the folds of the robe and the soft rendering of the fur. Through these formal elements, Bemme seems to invite a reflection on the relationship between surface and depth, appearance and interiority. It challenges viewers to consider how the external—the textures, lines, and forms—can reveal or conceal deeper meanings.