Portret van H.P. Berlage Possibly 1912 - 1919

Editor: Here we have Chris Lebeau's pencil drawing, *Portret van H.P. Berlage*, estimated to be from around 1912 to 1919, currently held at the Rijksmuseum. What strikes me most is how intensely the gaze pulls you in. How would you interpret this piece? Curator: You're right, there's a magnetic quality. For me, beyond just a portrait, it feels like an emanation. Look how the pencil strokes radiate outwards. Almost as if Berlage is radiating some kind of… architectural genius, perhaps? Knowing Berlage was a hugely influential architect makes me wonder if Lebeau was trying to capture not just his likeness, but his very essence. Editor: I hadn’t thought of it like that! So the radiating lines aren’t just a stylistic choice? Curator: Oh, stylistic, certainly! There's Art Nouveau echoing here. But I'm wondering if there’s a deeper intent too. Lebeau was deeply immersed in symbolism; these aren’t just any lines, darling, they speak volumes. Do you get a sense of the sitter's personality? Editor: He seems very serious, maybe even a bit world-weary? Curator: Indeed! There is this heavy gravitas. This drawing perhaps wants us to truly see the person behind the architect. An insight into a creator... Lebeau really does create an intensely personal rendering of his subject, don’t you think? It transcends just being a study, more like a glimpse into a soul. Editor: Absolutely. It's made me look at portraiture in a completely different way. Curator: That's the magic of art, isn't it? Always whispering secrets if we just know how to listen.