Portret van een onbekende man 1878 - 1943

This etching, *Portret van een onbekende man*, was made by Willem van Konijnenburg. The artist used closely spaced lines of varying thickness to build up the portrait. Notice how the etched lines define the planes of the face, capturing the intense gaze and worn features of the sitter, evoking a sense of introspection. Konijnenburg employed etching to explore the capacity of line. Linear arrangements of lines serve to describe form but also to evoke character. The varying densities and directions of the marks create areas of light and shadow. This is especially visible around the eyes and along the contours of the face, adding depth and emotion to the piece. The raw immediacy of the etching highlights the artist’s interest in capturing human expression through a structured yet dynamic use of line, underscoring the profound connection between artistic technique and emotional conveyance. The interplay of light, shadow, and line invites us to consider how form can deeply affect our perception of character and emotion.