Portrait of a Man in an Arm Chair, from Collection d'imitations de Dessins d'après les Principaux Maîtres Hollandais et Flamands Possibly 1821

Editor: Here we have a print titled "Portrait of a Man in an Arm Chair," thought to be from around 1821 and attributed to Christian Josi. It's rendered with etching and colored pencil on paper. There's an undeniable old-world feel to it, and the subject looks rather pensive. What strikes you most when you look at this piece? Curator: The sitter has a soft, almost vulnerable quality that gets to me. It makes me think about the masks we wear, and the reality underneath it all. What are his thoughts? Is it really from 1821, or maybe just intended to evoke that era? It reminds me of costume dramas…the little secrets hiding beneath layers of ruffles. Look how Josi used color…the sienna tones giving way to blush. He seems to have been inviting us into a kind of confessional, don't you think? Editor: Absolutely. It’s almost voyeuristic, catching him in this moment of contemplation. Do you see any particular influences in his style? Curator: Very astute observation. I do – this reminds me quite a bit of Rembrandt, which is reinforced by the signature at the bottom, don’t you think? His influence permeates so much work. Maybe Josi aimed for this style? Or perhaps that's who the man resembles? Art’s hall of mirrors! It is important to acknowledge that the artwork’s title suggests that Josi considered this a pastiche – a collection of imitations in the style of principal Dutch and Flemish masters. Editor: Wow, interesting point! So, it’s like a love letter to Dutch Golden Age masters? I suppose the beauty of the piece lies in that duality – the real, and the evoked. Curator: Precisely! And isn't it just delightful to stand at that intersection, pondering what is seen, felt and expressed?