Portret van de architect Jacques Gondouin 1820

This is Julien-Léopold Boilly’s undated portrait of the architect Jacques Gondouin, executed with etching on paper. The portrait emerges from a circular, densely hatched field that focuses our attention on the architect's face. Boilly’s emphasis here lies not just in the representation of Gondouin, but in a study of form, and how this form shapes our perception. The etching technique creates a semiotic system of signs – lines and dots – that coalesce to form an image. Note how the texture of the etching lends a tactile quality to Gondouin’s face, subtly animating the portrait. Through close visual analysis, it becomes evident that the artwork invites us to engage with the very processes of representation. Here, the artistic process is revealed, challenging fixed meanings and engaging with new ways of thinking about perception. The meticulous technique mirrors Gondouin's architectural precision.