Portret van Jacob Maris c. 1890

This is Pieter de Josselin de Jong's "Portret van Jacob Maris," an etching now held at the Rijksmuseum. The tonal range across the piece is quite narrow, with the subject emerging from a network of finely articulated lines. The artist masterfully uses line density to suggest depth and volume. Observe how the face is rendered with greater detail, drawing our focus, while the body is more loosely defined. De Jong's use of etching allows for a certain freedom of line, which he employs to capture not just a likeness, but also a sense of Maris's presence. The portrait engages with semiotic codes of representation, hinting at the subject's character through the materiality of the medium. It prompts us to consider how artistic choices and the deployment of graphic marks can shape our understanding of the sitter. The composition and technique used destabilize the conventional expectations of formal portraiture.