Portret van Abraham Hendrik Winter, en profil met pijp in de mond 1820 - 1895

This is a portrait of Abraham Hendrik Winter, made with graphite on paper by Gijsbertus Craeyvanger. The soft grey tones and fine lines are made by layering the graphite. Craeyvanger’s choice of material influences the appearance of the work; its inherent qualities of texture and tone, when built up gradually, are capable of capturing a likeness, an embodiment of labor and skillful control. The artist shows sensitivity and judgement, as it seems he is engaging with the subject’s personality, perhaps through a drawing technique and through the act of looking. The dimensions of this drawing are modest, a far cry from the heroic scale of history painting, and more like the intimacy of craft. Considering its mode of production, it presents a challenge to traditional distinctions between fine art and craft.