Tijs Dragtsma (1992) - Almost Gone
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Tijs Dragtsma presents Almost Gone (2026), a limited edition mixed media portrait on a black acrylic glass panel, numbered 1 of 10 and signed, 53 × 53 cm, in a contemporary style.
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Description from the seller
Almost Gone
Almost Gone is a sculptural work within the Art with Nails series by Tijs Dragtsma.
In this piece, the image is not painted or printed. It is constructed through impact. Precisely positioned brass nails penetrate a black acrylic glass panel, forming an extremely restrained composition defined by disappearance rather than description.
The face does not fully reveal itself. It neither emerges completely nor dissolves entirely. It exists in suspension. A quiet threshold between presence and absence.
From a distance, the figure appears to fade into the darkness. Up close, the surface reveals a controlled spatial structure of density, rhythm and deliberate restraint. Each nail represents a measured strike. A conscious decision. A structural unit within a composition that depends as much on what is omitted as on what is built.
Light plays a decisive role. The brass nails catch and reflect illumination against the depth of the black acrylic glass. As viewing angle shifts, the face seems to surface briefly before retreating again. The image is never fixed. It hovers.
Almost Gone is a study in serenity. In reduction. In the fragile balance between appearance and disappearance. Its strength lies in its restraint.
About Art with Nails
Art with Nails is a self developed artistic medium by Tijs Dragtsma in which imagery emerges through the precise placement of robust nails in brass or black steel. Rather than applying pigment, Dragtsma constructs form through repetition, rhythm and controlled force.
The works are built on white or black acrylic glass panels. This material choice is essential to the language of the series. The hardness of the metal and the fragility of the acrylic glass create a constant field of tension within the making process.
Each nail functions as an independent structural element within a larger spatial composition. Together they generate sculptural depth, material contrast and a shifting interaction with light and shadow that transforms with perspective and illumination.
The process demands technical control and physical precision. A single incorrect strike can cause immediate and irreversible damage to the acrylic glass. This risk is not incidental. It is embedded in the discipline of the work.
Within the series, works are produced as unique pieces or as limited editions depending on the concept and artistic direction.
About the Artist . Tijs Dragtsma
Tijs Dragtsma is a Dutch contemporary artist and founder of TD Fine Art Studio. His practice operates at the intersection of material, structure and light, with a strong focus on developing distinct artistic languages rather than following established traditions.
He is widely recognised for his Art with Nails series, in which hundreds to thousands of steel or brass nails form sculptural portraits and figurative compositions that transform with light and viewing angle. Through precision and repetition, he translates digital mapping into physical presence.
Since beginning his artistic practice in 2024, his works have entered private collections across Europe, Asia and the United States and have been presented internationally. His work is driven by experimentation, technical control and a long term vision centred on material integrity and spatial experience.
All works are conceived and produced in his studio in Enkhuizen, The Netherlands.
Almost Gone
Almost Gone is a sculptural work within the Art with Nails series by Tijs Dragtsma.
In this piece, the image is not painted or printed. It is constructed through impact. Precisely positioned brass nails penetrate a black acrylic glass panel, forming an extremely restrained composition defined by disappearance rather than description.
The face does not fully reveal itself. It neither emerges completely nor dissolves entirely. It exists in suspension. A quiet threshold between presence and absence.
From a distance, the figure appears to fade into the darkness. Up close, the surface reveals a controlled spatial structure of density, rhythm and deliberate restraint. Each nail represents a measured strike. A conscious decision. A structural unit within a composition that depends as much on what is omitted as on what is built.
Light plays a decisive role. The brass nails catch and reflect illumination against the depth of the black acrylic glass. As viewing angle shifts, the face seems to surface briefly before retreating again. The image is never fixed. It hovers.
Almost Gone is a study in serenity. In reduction. In the fragile balance between appearance and disappearance. Its strength lies in its restraint.
About Art with Nails
Art with Nails is a self developed artistic medium by Tijs Dragtsma in which imagery emerges through the precise placement of robust nails in brass or black steel. Rather than applying pigment, Dragtsma constructs form through repetition, rhythm and controlled force.
The works are built on white or black acrylic glass panels. This material choice is essential to the language of the series. The hardness of the metal and the fragility of the acrylic glass create a constant field of tension within the making process.
Each nail functions as an independent structural element within a larger spatial composition. Together they generate sculptural depth, material contrast and a shifting interaction with light and shadow that transforms with perspective and illumination.
The process demands technical control and physical precision. A single incorrect strike can cause immediate and irreversible damage to the acrylic glass. This risk is not incidental. It is embedded in the discipline of the work.
Within the series, works are produced as unique pieces or as limited editions depending on the concept and artistic direction.
About the Artist . Tijs Dragtsma
Tijs Dragtsma is a Dutch contemporary artist and founder of TD Fine Art Studio. His practice operates at the intersection of material, structure and light, with a strong focus on developing distinct artistic languages rather than following established traditions.
He is widely recognised for his Art with Nails series, in which hundreds to thousands of steel or brass nails form sculptural portraits and figurative compositions that transform with light and viewing angle. Through precision and repetition, he translates digital mapping into physical presence.
Since beginning his artistic practice in 2024, his works have entered private collections across Europe, Asia and the United States and have been presented internationally. His work is driven by experimentation, technical control and a long term vision centred on material integrity and spatial experience.
All works are conceived and produced in his studio in Enkhuizen, The Netherlands.
Details
Artist
Tijs Dragtsma (1992)
Sold by
Direct from the artist
Edition
Limited edition
Edition number
1 of 10
Title of artwork
Almost Gone
Technique
Mixed media, Mixed technique
Signature
Signed
Country of origin
Netherlands
Year
2026
Condition
Excellent condition
Colour
Black, Gold
Height
53 cm
Width
53 cm
Depiction/theme
Portrait
Style
Contemporary
Period
2020+
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