Portret van Jan Vos 1660 - 1700

This is a drawing of Jan Vos, made with graphite on paper by an anonymous artist. Graphite, though unassuming, is capable of great subtlety, as we see in the subject’s flowing hair and somber expression. The process of drawing, with its reliance on hand-eye coordination, allows for a directness of expression. The artist uses hatching and cross-hatching to create tonal variations, and the pressure applied to the graphite determines the darkness of the lines. The soft, grey quality of graphite lends itself well to capturing the sitter's likeness, and to the study of light and shadow. The way graphite is used here conveys texture and form with remarkable precision. Drawings like this one are often considered preparatory works, yet they possess an immediacy that is often lost in more finished pieces. By valuing the qualities of the medium and its making, we can appreciate the artistic decisions that make this portrait so compelling.