Portret van Cornelis Anne denden Tex Possibly 1850 - 1856

This is Johann Peter Berghaus's 'Portret van Cornelis Anne den Tex', made with black chalk and graphite. Notice how the composition is dominated by the sitter's figure, set against a muted background. Berghaus uses line and shading to create a detailed likeness, emphasizing texture in the face and clothing. The subtle gradations of tone give depth and volume. The portrait leverages conventions of the era, yet it also hints at underlying tensions between public image and individual character. The subject's gaze, slightly averted, along with the precise rendering of his attire and features, invites a semiotic reading of status and self-presentation. The use of monochrome further strips away distractions, focusing attention on form and structure. Consider the interplay between realism and representation; Berghaus's formal choices function within broader cultural codes, prompting us to question the boundaries between surface and depth. The portrait becomes a site where meaning is not fixed but actively negotiated.