Zelfportret van Aloïs Pieter Paul Hunin 1841 - 1842

Aloïs Pieter Paul Hunin created this self-portrait drawing at an unknown date, using graphite. Hunin lived in a time of significant social transformation, a period marked by the rise of industrialization and shifting class structures. Here, we can see the artist presents himself in a way that reinforces his position within the bourgeois society of his time. His clothing, particularly the suit and bow tie, speak to a certain level of economic comfort and social standing. He seems to want to show an idealized version of himself, someone cultured and refined. However, the very act of creating a self-portrait opens a more personal dimension. The artist’s gaze, though composed, carries a hint of vulnerability. By creating this image, Hunin not only left us a record of his physical appearance but also an insight into how he wished to be perceived by his contemporaries and by posterity. It encourages us to reflect on how identities are both performed and perceived, shaped by personal desires and societal expectations.