Portrait of Two Men (after Raphael) 1648 - 1671

This is Jan de Bisschop's "Portrait of Two Men (after Raphael)," created in the 17th century using pen in brown ink, brush in brown wash, and black chalk. Dominating the composition is a study in tonal contrast. The artist deftly employs a monochromatic palette to model forms, creating depth and volume. Notice how de Bisschop uses varying densities of wash to sculpt the figures, pushing them forward from the background. The texture is particularly intriguing, hinting at the artist's engagement with the materiality of ink and paper. The controlled chaos of the brushstrokes, especially in the rendering of hair and fabric, destabilizes the rigid formalism often associated with academic portraiture. De Bisschop's approach here opens up a dialogue on how the act of copying itself can be a creative reinterpretation. It invites us to reconsider the boundaries between imitation and originality.