Mona Lisa in Brass is a sculptural work within the Art with Nails series by Tijs Dragtsma. This work is part of a limited edition. In this piece, the image is not painted or printed. It is constructed through impact. Hundreds of precisely positioned brass nails penetrate a deep black acrylic glass panel, forming an iconic figure defined by elegance, restraint and quiet presence. The portrait captures a presence that does not rely on movement or expression. Mystery is conveyed through stillness. The face remains calm, almost distant, yet carries undeniable weight. From a distance, the image appears immediately recognisable. Up close, the surface reveals a layered landscape of depth, shadow and material tension. Each nail represents a deliberate strike. A measured decision. A structural element within a carefully controlled composition. Light plays a decisive role. As illumination shifts, shadows extend across the black acrylic glass, intensifying the sculptural dimension of the work. The brass reflects subtly, reinforcing the contrast between darkness and serenity. Mona Lisa in Brass is not merely a reference to one of art history’s most familiar images. It reflects permanence, ambiguity and the enduring power of presence. What appears quiet remains deeply charged. 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 unit within a larger spatial composition. Together they generate sculptural depth, material contrast and a shifting interaction with light and shadow that changes 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 part of the discipline and intensity embedded in 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 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.