Portret van Anna Wilhelmina Hendrika van Driel-Kummer (1843-1932) 1931

Elsa Woutersen-van Doesburgh made this portrait of Anna Wilhelmina Hendrika van Driel-Kummer in 1931. I can just imagine Elsa sketching, her pencil dancing across the paper to capture Anna's likeness. The soft strokes create a gentle face, and her eyes, magnified by glasses, convey wisdom and warmth. I wonder what it was like to sit for a portrait back then? Did Anna feel self-conscious, or did she enjoy the attention? Elsa's skillful rendering of light and shadow really brings Anna to life. You can almost feel the texture of her hair and the fabric of her dress. It’s like Elsa is in conversation with other portrait artists throughout art history. Each artist leaves their mark, contributing to this ever-evolving dialogue of creativity, don’t they? This drawing reminds us that art is not just about capturing a likeness, but about capturing a moment, a feeling, a human connection.