Portret van Frederick Leith-Ross 1872 - 1950

This is Barbara Elisabeth van Houten’s portrait of Frederick Leith-Ross, a delicate dance of ink on paper. Imagine her, bending close, etching with focused intensity, each line a whisper of observation and feeling. It's fascinating to think about what might have been going through Van Houten’s mind as she captured Leith-Ross. The piece has a subdued, quiet energy that speaks to a deep understanding of her sitter, rendered in a monochromatic palette that heightens the sense of intimacy. See how each stroke of ink is placed with intention, building volume, texture, and depth from a network of lines and marks. The scratches and shadings give it a tactile quality. You can almost feel the weight of the ink, the bite of the tool, the pressure of her hand. This feels like a real conversation between artist and subject, a dialogue played out in shades of gray. Painting and printmaking—it’s all about this kind of looking and responding.