Portret van tsaar Peter de Grote 1827 - 1891

Johannes Bosboom sketched this portrait of Tsar Peter the Great using graphite, capturing the ruler's likeness with stark simplicity. Peter’s gaze, though lightly rendered, holds a penetrating quality, reminiscent of the all-seeing eye, a motif that echoes through centuries. Consider the eye, not just as a physical feature, but as a symbol of power and surveillance. Its appearance separate from the rest of the composition evokes a sense of detachment. Similar depictions of singular eyes can be traced back to ancient Egyptian art, representing divine watchfulness. Through history, the eye transforms, appearing in Renaissance emblems as a symbol of prudence, and later, in Romantic art to represent inner vision. This symbol has continued to resurface, constantly evolving in meaning through cultural shifts and subconscious drives.