Portret van Antonius Johannes Perizonius 1822 - 1845

Curator: Ah, let's talk about this finely rendered portrait. It’s a pencil drawing titled "Portret van Antonius Johannes Perizonius" created sometime between 1822 and 1845, by Leonard de Koningh. Look closely at the detail in the face and clothing. Editor: Immediately, those spectacles jump out. There's something about them...like portholes into another, more meticulous world. And the way they perch on his nose gives the piece a kind of…learned air? Curator: Yes, exactly! De Koningh really captures Perizonius's intellectual nature. Portraits of this era often use such symbolic devices. The eyeglasses speak to Perizonius being an academic or someone engaged with the written word. They subtly communicate a profession without having to show any professional tools. Editor: True. But the medium itself, the pencil, feels so…understated for such a formal portrait. I mean, think of the Dutch Masters in oil paint and all their splendor; then here’s this incredibly detailed sketch. It almost feels rebellious in its simplicity. A quiet revolution perhaps? Curator: I wouldn't say rebellious, more reflective of a changing artistic landscape. Drawing became increasingly valued in its own right during this period. Think of it as a more intimate way of engaging with a subject. A glimpse into character without all the theatrics. Plus, realism was growing. Academic artists like De Koningh worked to represent subjects authentically rather than idealized. Editor: Still, the absence of colour does change things, doesn’t it? Without colour to distract us, all we are left with is form and light and the lines of his character, so sharply drawn! Is this person warm, intelligent, detached? Curator: Well, to your point on character, the shading is magnificent. The light falling across his face brings a wonderful depth to the rendering of bone and skin. I find him both inquisitive and reserved. There is a lot to find here about this era, in one beautifully preserved pencil drawing. Editor: It has certainly sparked a dialogue—one that continues through the symbols, style, and masterful touch in every stroke of the artist's hand. Curator: Agreed, and in that very exchange, perhaps we touch the man beyond the portrait.