Portret van een man, genaamd Devivier c. 1919

Floris Arntzenius created this portrait of Devivier with what looks like charcoal or graphite, capturing a fleeting moment of contemplation. The strokes are laid down with an assured hand, but retain a sense of looseness and searching, which to me is what drawing is all about. Look closely, and you’ll see how Arntzenius builds up the image through layers of smudged and hatched marks. The texture is soft, almost velvety, creating a sense of intimacy. The limited palette of grays and blacks gives the piece a timeless quality. I love how the artist focuses on the essential forms, leaving other areas open and undefined. See the way the hand is rendered, supporting the chin, it’s almost sculptural! This reminds me a little of Rodin’s drawings, where the line seems to dance and vibrate on the page. Ultimately, this drawing invites us to slow down, to observe, and to appreciate the beauty of the unfinished.