Portret van een 37-jarige man met de initialen J.H. 1917

This is Julie de Graag’s 1917 portrait of a 37-year-old man named J.H., made using India ink and graphite. Immediately striking is the rigorous, almost architectural approach. De Graag uses closely spaced vertical lines to define the subject’s suit, contrasted by the swirling curves that suggest his hair and facial features. Note how the linear elements aren't merely descriptive but construct the form, creating a structured yet softened image. This use of line and form is reminiscent of early 20th-century explorations into abstraction, where the essence of a subject is captured through simplified, geometric shapes. Consider too how the texture, achieved through delicate applications of ink and graphite, adds depth and invites closer inspection. The formal elements of line and texture invite reflection on how the artist sought to reconcile the abstract with the representational.