Portret van een man met hoed, genaamd Durieux c. 1883 - 1914

Floris Arntzenius sketched this portrait of Durieux using graphite on paper. The drawing captures the sitter in profile, with close attention to the texture of his mustache and the brim of his hat. The rapid, energetic lines give an impression of spontaneity, but the concentration of detail around the face suggests careful observation. Arntzenius’s use of line is particularly interesting. It's not merely descriptive; instead, the lines build up to create form and shadow, and give a sense of volume. Note how the hatched lines of the jacket contrast with the smoother strokes of the face, drawing our eye to the subject’s gaze. This is more than just a likeness; it’s a study in contrasts and textures, inviting us to consider how simple lines can convey complex character. Arntzenius employs line and form as symbolic gestures, capturing Durieux not just as an individual but as a figure enmeshed in a semiotic landscape of social and cultural meanings. This portrait is a testimony to how art, through careful manipulation of form, can act as a cultural mirror.