A refined graphite and wash portrait of Lodewijk Ten Bokkel by Dutch artist Jan Willem Caspari, capturing the formal attire and character of the early nineteenth century.

This portrait by Jan Willem Caspari depicts Lodewijk Ten Bokkel, a figure of the early nineteenth-century Dutch professional class. Executed in graphite and wash, the work demonstrates the restrained aesthetic common to portraiture of the period. Caspari focuses on the sitter's features, employing subtle tonal variations to model the face and the folds of the high-collared coat. The composition is minimal, placing the subject against a neutral background to direct attention toward his expression and posture.

Caspari, a Dutch artist active during the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, often produced works that captured the likenesses of his contemporaries with technical precision. The use of wash allows for soft transitions between light and shadow, providing a sense of volume that simple line work might lack. The sitter wears the formal attire typical of the era, including a high-collared jacket and a cravat, which provides a clear indication of his social standing. The drawing is preserved with a clean, unadorned presentation, reflecting the functional nature of such portrait studies in the Dutch tradition.

This print captures the quiet observation inherent in Caspari's style. The artist avoids unnecessary embellishment, choosing instead to document the individual with clarity and directness. The work functions as a historical record of Ten Bokkel, rendered with the steady hand of a draughtsman trained in the conventions of the time. The monochromatic palette and the focus on the sitter's gaze create a sense of immediacy, allowing the viewer to engage with the subject across the centuries. This piece is suitable for those interested in historical portraiture and the development of Dutch drawing techniques during the early nineteenth century.