Portret van een man 1880 - 1940

This is an interesting little portrait made by William Whiteley, but when, we don't know! I imagine Whiteley carefully thinking about how to capture this sitter—his hair, his pose, his little moustache and his stern expression. What did he think of this man? Did he like him? Look how the man rests his hand on the back of the chair. It's a small gesture that shows authority and presence. And the shadows! They give the portrait depth, shaping the man's face and clothing, and it's these dark areas which suggest something of his inner life, his complexity. What kind of painting would he have liked? Ultimately, making a portrait is about seeing, thinking, and feeling. It’s about a conversation between the artist and the person portrayed. And that conversation, whether it's full of answers or questions, can still speak to us now.