Zittende man met zwarte steek, in profiel, naar rechts - Jacob van Strij

A refined portrait study in black chalk and watercolour by Dutch artist Jacob van Strij, depicting a man in profile wearing a bicorne hat.

This portrait study by Jacob van Strij captures a man in profile, facing right, wearing a distinctive black bicorne hat, or steek. The work demonstrates the artist's technical command of black chalk and subtle watercolour washes. Van Strij, a Dordrecht-based painter and draughtsman, often looked to the masters of the seventeenth century for inspiration, and this piece reflects that interest in observation and character study.

The subject is rendered with a focus on the silhouette and the texture of the clothing. The artist uses light washes to suggest the volume of the coat and the shadow cast by the hat, while the facial features are defined with precise, delicate lines. The composition is restrained, placing the figure against a neutral background to draw attention to the profile and the specific attire of the sitter. The signature in the upper right corner confirms the authorship of this study, which likely served as a preparatory work or a standalone character sketch.

Jacob van Strij was known for his ability to capture the nuances of light and form, a skill evident in the way the shadow falls across the sitter's back and the soft modelling of the face. The use of a limited palette allows the viewer to focus on the draughtsmanship and the quiet dignity of the figure. This print offers a glimpse into the working methods of a Dutch artist operating at the turn of the nineteenth century, maintaining a connection to the traditions of his predecessors while documenting the fashions of his own time.