Portret van een man c. 1840 - 1843

This is a graphite drawing entitled "Portret van een man" by Sybrand Altmann, an artist active in the Netherlands during the 19th century. Looking at this portrait, one can't help but think about the cultural and societal expectations placed upon men during this period. Altmann's subject is dressed in a manner that reflects the norms of bourgeois respectability, embodying the era's emphasis on decorum. Yet, the sketch-like quality, the unfinished nature of the drawing, gives us a feeling of not quite knowing him. It raises questions about the limitations of portraiture as a means of truly capturing an individual. Does this drawing mirror the external expectations of masculinity during the 19th century, or does it reveal a more complex interiority? Incomplete as it is, the image hints at the delicate balance between public persona and private self. The portrait invites you to contemplate the many layers of identity, both constructed and felt.