Mansportret 1774 - 1837

Charles Howard Hodges created this portrait of an unknown man with chalk and graphite. Hodges was a British artist who gained prominence painting portraits of the elite in the Netherlands during a period of political upheaval. This portrait offers a glimpse into the identity of its subject and the conventions of the time. The man is portrayed wearing a double-breasted jacket and glasses, sartorial choices indicative of his middle-class status. In Hodges’ work, the artist's English and Dutch cultural identities intersect, influencing his artistic style and subject matter. The incomplete nature of the drawing invites speculation about the man's life and circumstances. This work serves as a reminder that portraiture is not just about representation, it's a form of storytelling. It leaves us to consider the narratives of identity, class, and cultural exchange that are woven into the fabric of history.