De oude bootsman 1875 - 1876

This drawing, "The Old Boatman," was created by Frederik Hendrik Weissenbruch and is now held at the Rijksmuseum. The artist employs a detailed drawing style, primarily using hatching and cross-hatching techniques to model his forms. The composition focuses on the figure of an old boatman leaning against a wooden structure, gazing out towards the sea. The overall tone of the artwork is somber and contemplative. The restricted palette, predominantly black and white, reinforces the sense of melancholy and introspection, characteristic of the realist movement. The dense network of lines gives texture to the boatman's clothing and to the foliage, thus creating a contrast with the smooth, open expanse of the sea and sky. This contrast serves to emphasize the isolation and contemplation of the figure, inviting viewers to consider the psychological and emotional complexities of human experience within its environment.