Reproductie van een foto van een portret van Barthélemy Charles Joseph Dumortier before 1858

This is Henri Borremans' reproduction of a photograph of Barthélemy Charles Joseph Dumortier's portrait. The lithographic reproduction is displayed on the left page of an open book. The figure's strong posture—arms crossed, gaze averted to the right—is rendered in soft gradations of gray. Borremans here employs the lithographic technique to translate the tonal range of a photograph into a print. What is interesting is how Borremans plays with the subtle tonal variations and sharp lines to convey a sense of depth and volume. The composition also reinforces a certain reading, and the lithograph is positioned as part of a larger textual narrative, inviting the viewer to consider the interplay between image and text, representation and reality. Ultimately, the formal arrangement of the elements guides the viewer's eye, framing Dumortier not merely as a subject, but as a figure enmeshed in a broader historical and cultural narrative. The portrait invites us to reflect on the ways images are constructed, circulated, and imbued with meaning.