Portrait of Prof. Mr. J.A. Veraart - Anton Abraham van Anrooy

A graphite portrait study of Professor J.A. Veraart by Anton Abraham van Anrooy, created in 1942 as part of a series documenting the Dutch court in London.

This graphite study by Anton Abraham van Anrooy captures Professor J.A. Veraart in a moment of quiet contemplation. Produced in June 1942, the drawing belongs to a series of preparatory sketches for a larger, unfinished painting depicting the Dutch court in London during the Second World War. Van Anrooy, a Dutch artist who spent his later years in Britain, utilised a fluid, observational technique to document the figures of the Dutch government-in-exile.

The subject is rendered in three-quarter profile, his head resting against his hand in a gesture of deep thought. He wears spectacles and the formal attire associated with his legal profession. Van Anrooy employs light, rhythmic strokes to define the contours of the face and the folds of the academic or legal gown. The artist prioritises the capture of character and posture over rigid anatomical precision, allowing the graphite to suggest volume through subtle shading rather than heavy layering. The composition remains open, with the figure emerging from the blank space of the paper, reflecting the spontaneous nature of a preparatory sketch.

This work offers a glimpse into the artistic process of documenting historical figures during a period of displacement. The lines are economical, demonstrating the artist's ability to convey personality with minimal mark-making. The focus remains on the intellectual gravity of the sitter, whose expression suggests the weight of the responsibilities held by the Dutch legal authorities operating from London during the occupation of the Netherlands. As a study, it provides insight into the observational rigour van Anrooy applied to his portraiture, capturing the human element within a formal, institutional context. The drawing is a record of both the individual and the specific historical circumstances of the Dutch community in wartime Britain.