Portretstudies voor het (onvoltooide) schilderij van de Nederlandse rechtbank in Londen, juni 1942: Mr C.W.A. Schürmann. Possibly 1942 - 1946

Anton Abraham van Anrooy made these portrait studies for the unfinished painting of the Dutch court in London in June 1942. There's a lightness to the touch here, a real sensitivity in the mark-making, which feels quite modern in its approach. Look closely, and you'll see how he's captured the fall of light on the figure, using delicate lines to suggest form and volume. The pencil strokes are so economical, almost tentative, but they build up to create a compelling image. The texture of the paper is also important here. It gives the drawing a kind of warmth and intimacy, like we're looking at a page from the artist's sketchbook. The notes at the bottom of the sheet make you wonder what the intention was for the finished work. The work as a whole feels like it could have been made by Lucian Freud, who was also interested in the psychological dimensions of portraiture. It's a reminder that art is an ongoing dialogue.