Portret van een man in pak 1890 - 1946

Cornelis Vreedenburgh made this portrait of a man in a suit, using graphite on paper. Here, the artist has chosen an accessible medium, in keeping with the quick, informal quality of a sketch. The marks are applied with varied pressure, which allows for both light and dark tones, lending volume and depth to the figure. You'll notice the concentration of dark marks around the lapel and side of the man's face, compared to the rest of the sketch, highlighting these areas and drawing the viewer's eye. The visible hatching creates a sense of texture, almost mimicking the weave of the man’s suit. While seemingly simple, the drawing captures the essence of the sitter's personality through subtle manipulations of material. This work, and others like it, suggest that even everyday materials can express complex ideas, challenging the traditional hierarchy between art and craft.