Oude manskop 1865 - 1930

Jac van Looij made this drawing, ‘Old Man’s Head’, with graphite on paper. Graphite, which is a form of carbon, lends itself well to sketching due to its softness and the ease with which it leaves a mark on paper. In this work, the artist utilized the material to produce a study with visible strokes, building up tone and texture to create a sense of depth and form. Van Looij’s approach to this artwork, evident in the application of graphite, is inherently tied to traditional artistic practices, where the directness of mark-making allows for an immediate expression of the artist’s vision, capturing the essence of the subject through the subtleties of line and shadow. The social significance of this lies in its simplicity. The accessibility of the materials and the intimate scale of the work suggest a focus on capturing a personal moment, emphasizing the universal themes of aging and human experience. This directness challenges more elaborate artistic productions, inviting viewers to appreciate the beauty found in simplicity and the skillful use of fundamental materials.