Portret van Charles Howard Hodges 1808

This portrait of Charles Howard Hodges was rendered in black chalk by Carel Lodewijk Hansen. It presents a man in the attire of his time, yet the simplicity of the composition draws our eye to something deeper. Notice Hodges' direct gaze, meeting ours with an intensity that transcends the canvas. This motif of direct eye contact, seen across centuries from ancient Roman portrait busts to Renaissance paintings, serves as a powerful bridge connecting the viewer to the subject’s inner world. Think of the Fayum mummy portraits, where the eyes follow you, as if carrying the soul's gaze through eternity. This gaze is not merely a physical attribute; it is a conduit for psychological and emotional resonance. Like the "pathos formula" evident in classical art, the eyes become a focal point for empathy, inviting us to project our own feelings and experiences onto the portrayed subject. It is through this interplay of gazes that the portrait achieves its enduring power, engaging us on a subconscious level and reminding us of our shared humanity across time.