Portret van J.E. van Iterson Possibly 1854

Johann Peter Berghaus created this portrait of J.E. van Iterson using lithography, capturing a profile of the sitter. The profile view, a convention dating back to ancient coins and Renaissance portraiture, presents more than just a likeness; it conveys a sense of timelessness and authority. We see this echoed in depictions of Roman emperors and Renaissance nobility. The profile becomes a mask, inviting us to ponder the sitter's inner world, his thoughts and motivations, which remain tantalizingly out of reach. Consider how such a pose resurfaces throughout history, each time subtly altered, yet retaining its fundamental psychological power. The profile is not merely a physical representation but a potent symbol, engaging our subconscious with questions of identity, power, and the enduring human quest for recognition.