A. Dumas sen 1822 - 1885

Editor: Here we have "A. Dumas sen," dating from 1822 to 1885, by Joel Ballin, currently residing at the Statens Museum for Kunst. It’s a print – an engraving, specifically – and I’m immediately struck by the formality, but also the intense focus on the subject’s face. What stands out to you in this portrait? Curator: Well, first, that negative space – acres of it! It almost feels…unresolved, doesn’t it? As if Dumas, a literary titan in his own right, is adrift in a sea of possibilities or perhaps, reflecting the academic style, elevated and isolated in his intellectual pursuit. The tight cropping throws us right into his gaze. He seems to be asking a silent question, doesn't he? One that requires not just a reply, but maybe even action. Editor: That's interesting! It's almost confrontational, isn't it? Unlike the formal portraits I'm used to seeing, it’s as though Ballin captures Dumas's directness. He's not posed, but present. How might the choice of engraving have impacted the portrait's reception at the time? Curator: Engraving offered a reproducibility that painting couldn't match. So, portraits like these became readily available, democratizing art in a way. But the stark lines of engraving – as opposed to the painterly softness - adds to that intensity. Makes you feel like he’s judging your taste in literature, or whether you’re really giving life your all! Bit unnerving, I think! Editor: Definitely a compelling piece! I never thought about how the printing process itself adds to the overall tone. Curator: It is, isn't it? Each scratch, each line, deliberate, contributing to our lasting impression. Consider this work's creation as not only academic but incredibly creative. The choices enhance this historical figure’s emotional presence in unexpected ways, centuries later!