Portret van Johan Braakensiek Possibly 1926

This is Nicolaas van der Waay’s portrait of Johan Braakensiek, made with pencil on paper. There’s a sense of immediacy in the cross-hatched marks, like the artist is trying to capture a fleeting expression. But it’s more than just a likeness; it's like he's trying to capture something of Braakensiek's inner life. Look at the way the lines around the eyes seem to suggest a thoughtful gaze, while the lines of the mouth hints at a wry smile. The shading on the jacket makes it appear almost textured, as if we could reach out and feel the fabric. The light and shadow play across the face in such a way that the portrait feels like a conversation, and that puff of smoke coming from his pipe just elevates the whole thing. This work reminds me of some of Käthe Kollwitz's portraits. Like Kollwitz, van der Waay is able to convey a sense of humanity and depth through the use of simple lines and shading. It just goes to show that art doesn’t always have to be about grand gestures, it can be about those quiet moments of connection.