Boer uit Laren 1900 - 1902

This is an undated drawing of a farmer from Laren, made by Martinus van Regteren Altena. It’s crafted with graphite on paper, using hatching and shading to render the farmer’s features. What’s fascinating is the directness of the medium. Pencil on paper is about as simple as it gets, yet Altena coaxes a remarkable likeness from it. Look closely at the lines etched into the farmer’s face, a testament to years spent working the land. Consider how the artist uses the side of the pencil to create those subtle tones on the farmer’s cheek. It's a study in contrasts: the roughness of the subject, with the relative refinement of the drawing technique. This work reminds us that even the humblest materials, combined with skill and close observation, can yield profound artistic insights. It invites us to consider the social and economic realities of rural life, and the dignity of labor captured in a few simple strokes.