Bildnis des Architekten Anton Eyssen 1906

Jan Toorop drew this portrait of the architect Anton Eyssen in 1906, using pencil on paper. There's a real sense of care in this drawing; you can tell Toorop took his time to get all the little details down. It's not just about showing what Eyssen looked like, but really capturing a sense of who he was, the soft shading of the face, the firm line of the moustache. Look closely, and you can see the texture of the paper coming through. It's like Toorop is letting us in on the process, showing us the work behind the image. It is so understated, just a pencil on paper, and yet, it speaks volumes. Notice the way he has rendered the hair, it is so full of life it feels like it could almost be moving. Toorop's style reminds me a bit of Klimt, especially in the way he uses line to create texture and depth. Both artists were interested in capturing more than just the surface appearance of their subjects, they invite us to look beyond mere representation.