Staande man met papieren in zijn handen 1836 - 1912

Curator: Standing before us is "Standing Man with Papers in His Hands," a drawing attributed to Isaac Weissenbruch, dating from 1836 to 1912, here at the Rijksmuseum. Editor: My first thought? It's a whisper from the past. He's like a stern but dignified figure, caught in a moment between appointments, all done in this incredible monochrome subtlety. The detail in that coat is mesmerizing. Curator: Absolutely. What I find intriguing is how this sketch offers a glimpse into the societal structures of the time, the way power and authority were visually represented, the formal attire, suggesting a person of importance. It also looks like Weissenbruch was sketching this from real life rather than imagining it which makes it a historical documentation Editor: That's exactly it! Think about the institutions of that period—the military, the bureaucracy— and how portraiture served to reinforce their legitimacy. And he's holding papers… official business? A bill he can't afford? A love letter he shouldn’t have? It's ripe for speculation. It feels surprisingly contemporary. Curator: It does. Even with its formal trappings, Weissenbruch manages to imbue it with a human quality. Editor: And technique-wise, observe how the varying densities of pencil create such depth and texture, especially in the man's overcoat, really clever work and the papers are quite detailed Curator: Indeed. The quality of his strokes shows an idea-generation phase from a personal sketchbook. How a fleeting moment became recorded by Weissenbruch to be passed to us to interpret generations later. Editor: Looking at this again, you almost get a sense of the sitter's personality, it might be just in the eyes or maybe how the pencil stroke emphasis on his moustache which evokes this aura about him Curator: Agreed, it humanises what would be perceived now as a symbol. Editor: Yes. Overall, it's been so interesting. A wonderful little drawing packed with history and feeling, that makes me wonder. Curator: A little drawing, that invites the possibility of different perspectives which re-envisions our thoughts on what a simple portrait is and what purpose it holds. Thank you for joining me today.