Zittende man met zwarte steek, in profiel, naar rechts 1766 - 1815

Jacob van Strij created this drawing of a man with a black hat in profile, using pencil, pen and watercolor. The composition is deceptively simple: a man seated, viewed from the side, rendered in muted tones against a plain backdrop. The artist's structural choices are what give this piece its resonance. The profile view flattens the figure, reducing him to essential lines and shapes. Notice how the sharp angles of the hat and facial features contrast with the softer curves of the body and clothing. The limited color palette further strips away extraneous detail, focusing our attention on form and shape. The tension between flatness and depth invites us to consider the nature of representation itself. Is this a portrait of an individual, or an exploration of the very act of seeing and depicting? Van Strij challenges fixed meanings, prompting ongoing interpretation and re-interpretation.