Mansbuste in ovaal 1829 - 1845

This is Henricus Wilhelmus Couwenberg’s ‘Man Bust in Oval’, an engraving made sometime before the artist’s untimely death in 1845. Born in the Netherlands in 1814, Couwenberg was a young man living through the turbulent period following the Napoleonic Wars. As such, this portrait is not simply an image of a man, but a reflection of the social values that shaped the era. The man is depicted with a solemn, almost mournful expression. It makes me wonder, what was the emotional landscape of the time? By presenting this man within the confines of an oval frame, Couwenberg is adhering to the traditional portraiture conventions which were intended to capture not just a likeness, but also the sitter’s social standing. Yet, I feel that Couwenberg imbues his subject with a depth of feeling that transcends mere representation, and gestures towards a broader understanding of identity.