Portrait of Jacobus Henricus Van 't Hoff, Seated, Looking into Camera. 1904

This black and white portrait, created in 1904 by Nicola Perscheid, depicts Jacobus Henricus Van 't Hoff, a renowned Dutch chemist and the first recipient of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry. The photograph captures Van 't Hoff seated, his gaze directly meeting the viewer's, creating an intimate and engaging atmosphere. His hand rests thoughtfully upon his chin, a pen held between his fingers, suggesting a moment of contemplation or intellectual engagement. The formal composition, with a dark background and well-defined lighting, accentuates Van 't Hoff's distinguished presence and reinforces his scientific stature.