Portret van een man 1710 - 1772

This is a portrait of a man, by Petrus Johannes van Reysschoot, made using sanguine chalk on paper. The chalk lines vary in pressure and density, creating both structure and shading. The drawing's character comes from the directness and ease with which the artist has worked the material. You can see where Reysschoot has built up the chalk in multiple layers, almost like applying clay to a sculpture. The immediacy of the medium lends the portrait an air of intimacy, as if we are witnessing a private moment of observation. While the drawing is preparatory, you can see how the artist has captured the materiality of the man's costume. The use of chalk as a medium connects this drawing to the traditions of both craft and fine art. While it lacks the prestige of oil paint, the sheer skill and artistry involved challenges our traditional distinctions between those categories. By focusing on the making, we can appreciate the value and labor embedded in this work.