Portrait of Prime Minister Michelsen 1906

Erik Werenskiold made this portrait of Prime Minister Michelsen with oil on canvas. It's monochrome. A study in the tonal range of black and white, and all the greys in between. I imagine Werenskiold’s process involved constant adjustments. Squinting at the subject and canvas, back and forth, trying to nail the essence of Michelsen’s presence. The brushstrokes feel intuitive, like the artist is feeling his way through the form, building it up from shadows. I bet Werenskiold thought a lot about Velasquez and Rembrandt. The guy is sitting in a chair; his hands are clasped, but the real subject is the face. Notice the way the light catches the planes of his cheek and brow. It's not just a record of a likeness, it’s the artist trying to catch something more elusive: character, mood, a fleeting expression. And that’s what makes it interesting. Because in the end, a painting like this isn’t just about the sitter, it’s about the painter and their way of seeing. And that vision is what we connect with, across time.