Péronne Arntzenius als jong meisje, van voren gezien 1870 - 1931

Willem Bastiaan Tholen made this graphite drawing of Péronne Arntzenius as a young girl. Notice how the composition centres on the face, drawing us immediately into the girl's gaze. The soft, delicate lines create a sense of gentle introspection. Tholen masterfully uses light and shadow to model the girl's features. The subtle gradations around her eyes and mouth give depth to her expression, while the looser, more gestural lines describing her hair add a sense of movement. The artist’s technique transforms a simple portrait into a study of form and emotion. This artwork goes beyond mere representation; it’s an exploration of line, tone, and the very act of seeing. Tholen challenges us to consider how a seemingly straightforward portrait can convey so much about the subject's inner life through purely formal means.