His approach relied on precise observation rather than romantic exaggeration. In works like "Kop van een hond" or his portraits of fellow artists like Martinus Antonius Kuytenbrouwer, he used hatchings to build form. He avoided soft transitions, preferring clear lines to define character. His historical scenes from the Eighty Years' War demonstrate this same clarity. He treated historical figures with the same realism as a contemporary draughtsman in a field.

Modern collectors value his work for its lack of sentimentality. His sketches of people in nature or tropical forests offer a direct view of the nineteenth-century world. These prints provide a sense of historical honesty. The monochromatic nature of his lithographs and drawings fits well in contemporary interiors. They offer a sophisticated look that relies on composition rather than bright colours.