Portret van Jan Freerks Zijlker c. 1851 - 1883

This is Johan Hendrik Hoffmeister’s portrait of Jan Freerks Zijlker, a delicate work on paper. The lithograph's structure relies on contrasts—the subject's dark attire against a soft, gradated background. This creates a focal point that is both striking and subtly diffused. Hoffmeister uses line and shading to delineate the contours of Zijlker's face and clothing, establishing a clear and precise representation. The composition is straightforward, yet the artist plays with texture, particularly in rendering the fabrics, where the interplay of light and shadow suggests depth and materiality. The artwork is more than a mere likeness. It’s an exercise in the semiotics of portraiture. The formal attire, the composed demeanor, and the considered use of light all contribute to constructing an image of bourgeois respectability. The very act of memorializing Zijlker through this medium implies a certain status. The portrait engages with prevailing social codes and power structures of the time, reflecting and reinforcing the values of the society in which it was created.