Portret van Dr. P.J.H. Cuypers 1885 - 1918

Therese Schwartze painted this portrait of Dr. P.J.H. Cuypers, and she really went for it with a limited palette, all browns and reds, and then a splash of white. I love how the texture of the paint creates a sense of depth, especially in the beard. You can almost feel the bristles! The artist wasn't afraid to leave the marks visible, and that’s what gives the portrait so much character. The light catches the surface and animates the whole thing. Notice the hands – they’re resting on the open book, and the way Schwartze painted them, with those subtle variations in tone, is so delicate. Think about other portrait painters, like Rembrandt, who played with light and shadow in a similar way. Ultimately, it's a conversation between artists across time, an exploration of form and feeling that never really ends.