Portret van Jacob Heinrich Krelage 1896 - 1936

This is a portrait of Jacob Heinrich Krelage by Theodorus Henricus Kerstel. It's a lithograph on paper. You know, I wonder what it's like to make a work like this. Did Kerstel start with the eyes? Did he begin by mapping out the structure of the face? The lithographic marks are so descriptive, so methodical. I find myself thinking about the cross-hatching on the jacket; it's so dense and tight, giving the fabric weight and form. Kerstel’s built a surface, a presence; it's very physical. And then look at the face, with its softer, more subtle gradations. He really captures a certain softness, a human quality. When you look at the portrait, you can almost see Kerstel’s hand moving across the plate, carefully building up the image. The act of painting becomes a conversation, a dance between artist and medium.