Portret van Ferdinand Bordewijk 1936

Lodewijk Schelfhout’s portrait of Ferdinand Bordewijk is a delicate dance of graphite on paper, a study in subtle suggestion. The wispy lines create the impression of a face in quiet repose. It’s artmaking as an act of gentle uncovering rather than forceful construction. The texture of the paper plays a crucial role here; its slight roughness catches the graphite, creating subtle variations in tone. Look at the area around the eye, how the faintest shadow defines the brow. The artist uses the bare minimum of marks, trusting the viewer to fill in the blanks, to complete the picture with their imagination. Schelfhout's approach reminds me of Agnes Martin, in the way he achieves so much with so little. Both artists show us that less can be more, that art can be a quiet, contemplative space. Ultimately, this drawing is a testament to the power of suggestion and the beauty of the unfinished.