Schets voor portret van Jacob Houbraken 1769

"Schets voor portret van Jacob Houbraken" is a 1769 charcoal drawing by Dutch artist Hendrik Pothoven, depicting Jacob Houbraken, a renowned Dutch engraver and art historian. This preliminary sketch for a portrait, currently housed in the Rijksmuseum, provides a glimpse into Pothoven's artistic process and captures Houbraken in a moment of contemplation, likely holding a book or document. The drawing's delicate lines and subtle shading convey both the likeness of the sitter and the artist's keen observation.