Lezende man 1854 - 1914

Albert Neuhuys' 'Lezende man' presents a series of sketches, a study in graphite, its muted tones creating an atmosphere of quiet contemplation. Dominating the composition is a square block in charcoal, framing the back of a seated figure and a blurred profile of a head. The overall effect is one of instability, where definition is suggested but never fully realised. Neuhuys uses a semiotic system, using the charcoal to signify 'figure' without fully committing to the clarity of its form. The structural absence invites us to question our own interpretation, as form and meaning remain in flux. The artist presents us with a subject that resists fixed meaning. The charcoal's indeterminacy isn't simply an aesthetic choice, but a philosophical statement about the provisional nature of knowledge and representation. The sketch unsettles conventional notions of realism, suggesting that what we see is always mediated, fragmented, and open to interpretation.