Portret van Hendrik de Flines op de rug gezien c. 1700 - 1800

This drawing of Hendrik de Flines from behind was made anonymously with graphite on paper. It shows a figure from the back, revealing the cut of his coat and the set of his shoulders. The anonymous artist was likely sketching from life, quickly capturing the impression of a man at work. Graphite, easily sharpened to a point and capable of rendering fine lines and tonal shading, was ideal for this purpose. The marks on the paper evidence the artist's hand movements – short, directional strokes that describe the fall of light and shadow. In a way, the drawing is as much about the act of looking and recording as it is about the subject. The economic and social conditions of the day enabled this artistic practice – a relatively inexpensive material like graphite allowing the artist to capture a fleeting moment in time. Looking closely at the material and the way it’s been applied reminds us that art is always a product of its time, shaped by available resources and technologies.