Portret van een onbekende man 1883 - 1908

Johan Henri Gustaaf Cohen Gosschalk rendered this portrait of an unknown man using a graphic technique, sometime between the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Gosschalk, a Jewish artist in the Netherlands, lived in a time of rising social tensions, and of complex negotiations around identity. The identity of the man in the portrait is unknown, yet his gaze holds a certain awareness of his place in the world. The lines on his face suggest a life fully lived. The portrait makes one consider the place of elderly men in society, particularly the commonness of portraying them as wise and dignified. Here, however, we're invited to consider the value and history of a person whose name is not known, whose story may never be told. The portrait invites you to contemplate the human condition, and to appreciate the dignity of ordinary people whose lives contribute to the vast and complex tapestry of human existence.