Portret van kunstenaar Louis van Soest c. 1883 - 1914

Floris Arntzenius created this portrait of the artist Louis van Soest using a graphite pencil sketch. Arntzenius worked during a time of significant change in the Netherlands, as the country navigated industrialization and urbanization. He captured the spirit of The Hague School, moving away from romantic idealism to a more realistic representation of everyday life. As such, this portrait reflects an interest in capturing the individual essence of an artist, in all his human complexity. The sketch offers an intimate, informal view of van Soest, focusing on his inner character rather than idealized beauty. The loose lines and unfinished quality add to this sense of immediacy, as if capturing a fleeting moment. Van Soest is rendered with a certain vulnerability, hinting at the challenges and triumphs of a creative life. This work invites us to consider the lives and identities of the artists themselves, reflecting on their roles within a changing society.