Schrijvende man zittend op een stoel 1874

Jan Willem van Borselen created this drawing, *Schrijvende man zittend op een stoel*, using graphite. The composition centers on a seated man, his form defined by a network of fine lines. The textures rendered through hatching create a striking contrast between light and shadow. Notice how the artist uses the line, not just to depict form but also to suggest the weight and texture of the man's clothing. Van Borselen captures a sense of the subject's inner thoughts, a quality of the artwork that speaks to a broader cultural interest in introspection and individual experience. The semiotic system of signs present in the artwork, such as the man's hat and clothing, may communicate a range of cultural codes. Consider the drawing’s materiality: the graphite on paper creates a direct, unfiltered expression. The starkness of the medium emphasizes the artist's skill in conveying depth and emotion through the simplest of means. It’s a beautiful reminder of how a few lines can suggest a whole world of meaning.