Portret van Henrik Ibsen 1905 - 1906

This is an anonymous portrait of Henrik Ibsen, made at an unknown time with an unknown medium, though my guess would be photography. The tones are muted and grayscale, which lends the photograph a subdued, contemplative quality. Looking at the texture, or lack thereof, I am reminded of the conceptual work of the Bechers, who photographed industrial architecture with an objective neutrality, focusing on the forms rather than surface. Although this image is a portrait, it shares this sensibility, the texture flattened and smoothed, the tones cool and neutral. My gaze is drawn to Ibsen's hands, folded neatly in his lap, which lends the image a sense of stillness and composure. Overall, this portrait invites us to contemplate the complexities of the human spirit. It is an exercise in understatement.