In An Afternoon Stroll, André Romijn offers a masterclass in restraint, elegance, and classical technique. Executed in the traditional trois crayons method on subtly textured blue paper, this portrait radiates both intimacy and quiet dignity.
The subject, rendered in a harmonious blend of black, white, and red chalk, stands poised with hands gently clasped behind her back. Her posture is relaxed yet self-assured, and the half-smile on her face suggests inner calm and quiet strength. There is nothing theatrical here — instead, Romijn captures something timeless: the quiet presence of a woman who is both rooted and radiant.
The use of blue paper is particularly effective, lending the work a luminous coolness that enhances the silvery highlights in her hair and the soft tonal gradations of her clothing. The folds in the blouse and skirt are delicately suggested rather than over-defined, evoking light movement and natural form. The blue ground also acts as a unifying force, holding figure and space in a soft equilibrium.
Romijn’s use of trois crayons connects this work to classical traditions — notably the 18th-century French portraitists — while the contemporary setting and fresh treatment place it firmly in the present. There is no excess, no flourish for its own sake: every stroke serves clarity, character, and atmosphere.
This drawing is more than a likeness. It is a gesture of attentiveness — to the person, to the light that falls on her, and to the moment of stillness in which the viewer becomes quietly involved.
Medium: Trois crayons on blue paper (red, black and white chalk)
Dimensions: 38 x 30 cm
Artist: André Romijn
Date: June 2025
