Oude visscher 1885 - 1931

Here's a drawing of an old fisherman by Frederika Henriëtte Broeksmit, made with what looks like ink, maybe charcoal. I can imagine the artist working quickly to capture the man’s likeness, building up the image with layers of short, scribbled lines. There's a real sense of energy in the marks, especially around the figure’s head. It looks like the artist wanted to suggest the chaos of the sea, or maybe the fisherman’s own turbulent thoughts and memories. I wonder if she knew him well? The drawing is mostly monochrome, which emphasizes the texture and the play of light and shadow on the fisherman’s face. You can almost feel the weight of time etched into his skin. It's like Broeksmit is in conversation with other artists, capturing a figure with honesty and a painterly sensibility. These marks create a kind of visual language that goes beyond just representation. It’s so interesting to see how artists continue to find new ways to express themselves through this simple medium.