Portret van Thomas Theodorus Hendrikus Jorissen 1891

Jan Veth’s portrait of Thomas Theodorus Hendrikus Jorissen captures the sitter in a classic pose, his gaze directed to the future. Here, Jorissen is a man with a beard, a symbol of wisdom and maturity since antiquity, seen in images of philosophers and prophets. Consider the beards of ancient Greek thinkers or the patriarchal figures in Renaissance paintings, where a beard signified knowledge, experience, and authority. Yet, observe how the cultivated nature of Jorissen’s beard also speaks to the values of his own time, reflecting the 19th-century emphasis on respectability and intellectual prowess. The act of portraiture itself is laden with symbolism; the subject has a desire to be remembered. This connects to humanity’s deep-seated need for legacy. What does he want to project? We project our aspirations and self-image onto these portraits, perpetuating a dialogue between past and present.