Portret van Sebald Fulco Johannes Rau 1801

This is Charles Howard Hodges' portrait of Sebald Fulco Johannes Rau, created using mezzotint. The monochromatic palette emphasizes tonal contrasts, and the composition divides the frame between figure and setting. The subject, Rau, is rendered with careful gradations of light and shadow, lending him a lifelike presence. Hodges utilizes the mezzotint technique to produce rich textures, seen especially in the velvety appearance of Rau’s coat and the ornate details of the surrounding objects. The composition places Rau in a scholar’s setting, surrounded by books and writing implements, signifying intellectualism. The play of light across the surface of the print not only models form but also directs the viewer’s gaze, creating a sense of depth and atmosphere. It’s the subtle gradations of tone and texture in this mezzotint that bring the sitter to life, inviting us to contemplate the character and status of the sitter within his cultural milieu. This artwork presents not just a likeness, but an engagement with the very fabric of representation itself.