Portret van kunstenaar Hendrik Willem Mesdag c. 1883 - 1914

Floris Arntzenius created this portrait of Hendrik Willem Mesdag using ink and paper. The drawing’s raw, immediate quality comes from its energetic lines and the stark contrast between light and shadow. Arntzenius captures Mesdag’s likeness through a flurry of marks, focusing on the contours of his face and beard. The hatching and cross-hatching create depth, while the blank spaces give the portrait an unfinished, exploratory feel. This technique evokes the rapid sketches of the Impressionists, with its emphasis on capturing a fleeting moment. Yet, the portrait also hints at a deeper psychological reading. Consider how Arntzenius uses the lack of a defined background to isolate Mesdag, intensifying the focus on his expression. Through this interplay of presence and absence, the portrait invites us to contemplate the artist's inner world, challenging fixed notions of identity and representation.