Portret van de predikant Johannes Petrus Hasebroek 1835 - 1886

This print portrays Johannes Petrus Hasebroek, a reverend, made by Dirk Jurriaan Sluyter. Notice the sitter’s hands, gently clasped, a gesture echoed in countless portraits across eras. This seemingly simple posture speaks volumes. The clasped hands, a motif resonant with introspection and control, can be traced back to ancient Roman sculptures, where orators and leaders adopted similar gestures to project authority and composure. Yet, in Hasebroek’s portrait, the hands tell a different story. They suggest a quiet contemplation, a subdued strength. Consider how this motif reappears in religious art, particularly in depictions of saints or biblical figures in moments of prayer. The hands become a conduit for expressing devotion. What is interesting is that the symbolic weight shifts, the gesture perseveres, revealing the intricate tapestry of cultural memory.