Karikatuurportret van Willem Martens, zijn biljartkeu krijtend 1870 - 1899

This caricature portrait of Willem Martens, caught in the act of chalking his billiard cue, was drawn by Elchanon Verveer. The artist worked in charcoal, a humble material compared to oil paint, but perfectly suited to capturing a likeness with speed and wit. Look closely at the granular texture achieved by this material, how Verveer layers the charcoal to build up tone and form. The artist is clearly skilled in the art of observation and draftsmanship. The quick and sketchy lines add to the sense of immediacy, as though we’ve caught Martens in a fleeting moment. This suggests an intimate knowledge of the sitter – someone the artist has seen many times in this attitude. The choice of charcoal also speaks to the social context of caricature: it's a medium of quick communication, often used in newspapers and prints. By using it here, Verveer wittily elevates the everyday act of playing billiards to the realm of art, reminding us that even leisure activities are shaped by social class and cultural values.