Politicus met hoge hoed en onderscheiding op de borst 1900 - 1935

Patricq Kroon drew "Politicus met hoge hoed en onderscheiding op de borst" with pen and ink, sometime in the early 20th century. The way Kroon’s puttering black lines define this figure reminds me that drawing is just a way of thinking, of feeling around for a form. The ink is so dense in places that it almost feels like it's got a raised surface, a bit of impasto. Look at the way the black ink renders the right-hand side of his jacket and creates a visual weight pulling against his gesturing hand. And what about those stray, noodle-like lines above the hat, are they thoughts or just doodles? You get the sense of an editorial cartoonist capturing both likeness and character. This drawing’s caricature puts me in mind of Daumier. Like him, Kroon creates this immediate connection with the viewer. Neither artist is interested in illusionism or even necessarily flattery. Instead, they offer a glimpse into a specific moment of looking.