Portret van P. Reinhard c. 1850

This is Leendert Springer's "Portret van P. Reinhard" made using lithography. The composition presents a bust of P. Reinhard, but it’s the construction of the portrait that draws our eye, doesn't it? Notice how the artist employs a limited palette, focusing on gradations of tone to model the face and clothing. The wig is a cascade of curls, rendered with incredible detail that contrasts with the softer treatment of the face, creating a play between texture and form. This interplay between precise detail and softer definition destabilizes the conventional portrait, disrupting our expectations of representation. It's as if the artist is questioning the very nature of portraiture, challenging us to consider what constitutes likeness and identity. What remains consistent, however, is how the image plays with representation and likeness in relation to texture. It is a portrait with the semiotics of status laid bare.