Johannes Gijsbert Vogel (1828-1915), Painter 1910

This is Gijsbertus Derksen’s painting of Johannes Gijsbert Vogel, a painter, made with oils, but we don't know when. Look at the brown and ochre palette, so earthy and academic! Derksen's clearly got a handle on tone and texture. You can feel him there in his studio, squinting his eyes, carefully scrutinising the sitter. I wonder what it was like for Derksen to paint another painter. Was it a process of mutual respect, or did each one try and outdo the other? Did Vogel have any advice for the young Derksen? The eyes in the painting are piercing, though slightly unfocused. Vogel appears lost in thought, as if imagining the next artistic move. The dark background makes the subject pop, so the eye goes straight to his face. It reminds me of other paintings of artists, like Courbet's self-portraits. This portrait feels like part of an ongoing conversation.