Portret van een onbekende man 1864 - 1923

This is Peter von Halm’s etching of an unknown man. The portrait's structure is strikingly simple, almost stark: a profile view rendered in monochromatic tones. The artist's focus seems to be on texture and form rather than color. The rough, uneven quality of the etching creates a semiotic code—a representation of age, experience, and perhaps even the harshness of life. The lines are not clean or precise; instead, they appear as if etched by time itself, mirroring the lines on the man’s face. The use of light and shadow is also intriguing. The artist strategically employs it to highlight the depth of wrinkles and the contours of the face. Consider how Von Halm's treatment of the surface challenges traditional notions of portraiture. The surface becomes more than just a background; it is an active participant in conveying the subject’s persona. The portrait invites a re-evaluation of what we consider essential in representing a person. It's a statement on the nature of identity, created through a combination of line, texture, and form.