Portret van Patrick Bakker 1936

This is a portrait of Patrick Bakker, made in 1922 by Lodewijk Schelfhout, it looks like it’s made with drypoint. I really love the way the artist used such simple marks to create depth and form. It's all about the process here, you can imagine the artist working and reworking the plate to achieve this finished image. Notice how the lines around the eyes and mouth are darker and more defined, giving Patrick Bakker's face a sense of depth and emotion. The texture is created entirely through the density and direction of the lines, some areas like the hair have a real sense of movement. It's amazing how such simple materials can create such a powerful and engaging portrait. It reminds me a little of Lucien Freud’s etchings, there's a similar kind of intense observation. Ultimately, art is a conversation and an ongoing dialogue between artists across time and place, and this piece is a wonderful example of that.