Figuurstudie 1731

This is "Figuurstudie", a drawing by Abraham de Haen II, now held at the Rijksmuseum. The drawing presents us with a study of figures, rendered with delicate lines on paper, spread across two pages from a sketchbook. De Haen’s use of line creates structure within the composition, guiding our eyes through subtle gestures and forms. The texture of the paper itself becomes a visual element, adding depth and a sense of immediacy to the sketch. Through these sketches, De Haen engages with ways of seeing, exploring the fundamental elements of representation itself. The seemingly casual nature of the sketchbook format suggests a challenge to fixed ideas, inviting ongoing interpretation.