Portret van Johan van Dissel 1825 - 1850

This is Abram van der Horn's portrait of Johan van Dissel, made with etching. Notice van Dissel's profile: the resolute set of his jaw, the gaze directed slightly upwards. This echoes a classical trope. Think of Roman portrait busts, where the profile was not merely a likeness, but a statement of character and virtue. The profile, in its stoic stillness, becomes a mask, inviting the viewer to delve beneath the surface. But consider also the soft, almost vulnerable quality of the etching. The lines are delicate, lacking the robust clarity of an engraving. This hints at an inner life, a psychological depth not immediately apparent. Thus, the profile is no longer just a symbol of power but also a window into the soul. The emotional tension between the classical ideal and the subtleties of human emotion engages us on a subconscious level. Such motifs resurface, transformed, as humanity grapples with its nature. They are never truly lost, only remade.