Portret van Anton Mauve c. 1887 - 1888

Willem Witsen captured Anton Mauve's likeness in this etching, a medium known for its intimacy. Here, the subject is rendered in profile, a composition rich in art history, from ancient Roman coins to Renaissance portraiture. This view often symbolizes contemplation and authority. Mauve's beard, thick and full, conveys wisdom, a visual echo of the beards seen in depictions of philosophers and patriarchs throughout art. Note how Witsen uses shadow to suggest depth, a technique that recalls Rembrandt's manipulation of light and dark to convey psychological depth. The etching medium itself, with its delicate lines, mirrors the fleeting nature of memory, a visual metaphor for how we grasp and hold onto images of those we admire. This portrait is not merely a depiction of a man, but a study in the persistence of cultural memory.