Portret van professor Jan Konijnenburg c. 1778 - 1838

Editor: This is a portrait drawing of Professor Jan Konijnenburg, created with pencil sometime between 1778 and 1838 by Anthonie van den Bos. The realism makes it feel quite direct, even intimate. What catches your eye? Curator: The eyes, actually. They seem to hold a certain...resignation? The loose strokes forming his jacket contrast sharply with the delicate frills at his neck, creating this subtle tension, this visual push and pull. It makes me wonder, who was Konijnenburg, really? Beyond the title, what sort of person inhabited this somewhat hastily sketched form? It feels…unfinished, somehow. Editor: Unfinished in a good way? Curator: Absolutely! Think of it as a glimpse behind the curtain. Portraits of the era were often about projecting status, about permanence. But this drawing? It feels raw, immediate. It feels as though the artist was capturing a fleeting moment, a glimpse of the real man beneath the professor's robes. Does it conjure any stories for you? Editor: It makes me think about the vulnerability of sitting for a portrait, exposing yourself to someone else's gaze and interpretation. I guess he had to sit there, while the artist scrutinised him. That takes guts. Curator: Precisely! It's an act of trust. And Van den Bos, by leaving it somewhat unresolved, almost invites us into that shared space, into that moment of quiet observation. This image lingers, sparking questions. What could have become if this professor’s story continued to be documented by van den Bos? Editor: It's less a pronouncement and more of a conversation, which is kind of lovely. Curator: Beautifully said. It reminds me of how, as artists, we chase those ephemeral moments hoping they, too, might come to life for just a little while longer, even on paper.