Portret van een Soendanese man c. 1921

Willem Witsen made this portrait of a Sundanese man, likely in the late 19th or early 20th century, using graphite and crayon. The strokes of the crayon create a textured surface, like a field of tiny dashes. See how the shading builds up so densely around the man’s face and turban? This creates a play of light and shadow that gives the portrait depth. The artist doesn't try to hide the process, but rather celebrates it. The marks are visible, and the texture is palpable. It's a reminder that artmaking is not about perfection, but about embracing the imperfections and celebrating the process. This direct, unvarnished approach reminds me of the work of Lucian Freud. Like Freud, Witsen isn't afraid to show us the nitty-gritty details, the raw texture, the imperfections. Art isn't about hiding, but about revealing, about showing the world as it is, in all its messy, beautiful complexity.