Man met een kind op de arm c. 1868s - 1878s

Jan Willem van Borselen’s "Man met een kind op de arm" is made with graphite on paper, using very simple tools. The lines are quickly drawn, reflecting the artist's close observation. The material directly influences the work's appearance. Graphite lends itself to a range of tonal variations, and the artist uses this to describe the forms of the man and child. You can see how the weight and pressure of the graphite creates areas of light and shadow, defining the figures in a minimalist manner. The sketch is also about the amount of time and labor involved in producing an artwork. As a rapidly made sketch, it privileges immediacy, with a lack of detail or finish. This work stands apart from the tradition of highly finished academic drawings, and focuses instead on the quick and direct rendering of the subject. Paying attention to the materials, making process, and social context opens up new ways of understanding this seemingly simple artwork, challenging traditional distinctions between fine art and craft.