In this sensitive preliminary sketch in sanguine, André Romijn once again demonstrates his mastery in capturing both character and form with minimal means. Working in the rich, warm tones of red chalk, Romijn sets the foundation for a future painting with an eye for balance between structure and spontaneity.
The subject’s confident yet serene gaze immediately draws the viewer in. Through a subtle interplay of light and shadow, Romijn sculpts the features with delicate tonal transitions, particularly around the eyes, mouth, and cheekbones, imbuing the portrait with a sense of vitality and inner life. His line work — alternately loose and precise — brings dynamism without losing anatomical accuracy.
The handling of the torso and clothing is more suggestive, allowing the viewer’s imagination to complete the forms, a choice that keeps the sketch fresh and breathing, rather than overly defined. The use of negative space around the figure enhances the focus on the face, a hallmark of a draftsman confident in economy of means.
This sanguine sketch is more than just a preparatory study — it already possesses an autonomous aesthetic value. It promises a painting that will not only preserve this immediacy but also elevate it into a full-fledged emotional and visual experience.
Overall:
Elegant, lively, and poised between realism and artistic intuition, this study affirms André Romijn’s ability to bridge classical technique with contemporary expressiveness.
