Portret van Dirk Hidde Nijland met jas over de arm 1925

This is Simon Moulijn's pencil portrait of Dirk Hidde Nijland, jacket slung over his arm. Looking at this portrait, I can almost feel the soft give of the pencil on paper. See how the lines build up to create shadows and volume, giving Nijland a real presence. I imagine Moulijn, carefully observing his subject, capturing not just his likeness, but also something of his character. It reminds me of other portraitists like Sargent, who were masters of capturing the essence of their sitters. And you can see that Nijland was 44 years old, according to the inscription at the top. There's a sense of quiet confidence in his pose, the way he holds his jacket, the slight tilt of his head. It's like Moulijn is inviting us to consider who this man is, what his life is like. As viewers, we're drawn into the mystery of the individual, invited to reflect on the human condition.