Melle van Herwaarden

Untitled (Tom) I, 2026

Ink on Paper

15 3/4 x 20 1/2 inches (40 x 52 cm)

Courtesy of Andrew Dubow

Selected by The Drawing Center

Melle van Herwaarden (b. 1995, the Netherlands) graduated from the Gerrit Rietveld Academie, Amsterdam, in 2020, where he studied VAV, Moving Image. Recent exhibitions include The Vandals, Gladstone Gallery, New York (2026); Moments of Being, Jeremy Scholar, London (2026); and Flemishness, CFA and velo project, Milan (2025). His work has also been exhibited at Paulina Caspari, Munich. Working predominantly in figurative painting, van Herwaarden’s practice centres on the human figure and its surroundings, often drawing upon friends and family as subjects.

Here van Herwaarden’s presents another portrait of Tom, a recurring subject within his practice. This work continues the artist’s close observation of the people around him. Rather than presenting his subjects through narrative or setting, van Herwaarden focuses closely on the figure itself, paying particular attention to expression, posture and the subtle ways these can suggest a person’s inner state.

Here, Tom is shown against a dark, loosely painted background, his head tilted slightly downwards and his gaze turned away from the viewer. The limited palette of greys, blacks and whites gives particular emphasis to the face, which is constructed through distinct areas of light and shadow. The contrast between the pale figure and darker surroundings creates a sense of depth while keeping the composition deliberately spare.

The work reflects van Herwaarden’s broader interest in portraiture as an act of sustained observation: returning to a familiar face and looking closely, without necessarily arriving at a complete understanding of the person being depicted.