Portrait of an old man c. 1850

Curator: Before us hangs "Portrait of an Old Man," an oil painting attributed to Ary Scheffer, circa 1850. The painting captures its subject in profile. Editor: He seems burdened, doesn't he? The stark shadows emphasize the weight of time on his face, the texture almost echoing his inner world. It’s heavy with feeling. Curator: Absolutely. Scheffer, a prominent figure in the Romantic movement, was deeply invested in depicting emotional and psychological depth, which is evidenced in his artistic and historical narratives. Notice how his gaze seems to look toward a horizon. Editor: Yes, and how deliberate is the materiality of this portrait. We must also consider the access that it took to commission such a painting. I wonder, what type of brush strokes were implemented to create that stunning effect. Curator: The brushstrokes certainly convey realism and evoke raw emotion. Beyond technique, his features become a site where social anxieties are made visible. We see a somber assessment of manhood here. Editor: And his long, white beard which suggests a potential link to notions of wisdom associated with age, something perhaps deliberately emphasized by the artist's hand. But again, returning to the basics, it took pigment, preparation, brushes and canvas for this vision to become reality. What implications can be found from this context of manual labour? Curator: The fact that he's viewed in profile gives us an air of detached dignity and perhaps the patriarchal assumptions embedded within portraiture traditions and within western society. This creates distance while highlighting certain socially coded features. Editor: That's a great point, especially when viewing this piece through a contemporary context. This image prompts one to ask who and how he got to such place to possess a great sense of status and positionality. Curator: Precisely. Examining the painting reveals intricate layers, bridging his emotions with how gender roles and privilege affected identity then. Editor: Agreed, together we unveiled interesting perspectives that considered the artistic context, while delving into questions on society that makes it hard not to stop and reflect about his position in that era!