Portret van een onbekende man by Jac. van Faassen

Portret van een onbekende man 1907 - 1922

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paper, photography, gelatin-silver-print

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portrait

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paper

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photography

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gelatin-silver-print

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paper medium

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modernism

Dimensions: height 167 mm, width 108 mm

Copyright: Rijks Museum: Open Domain

Jac. van Faassen made this small portrait of an unknown man, but somehow I feel I know him. Look how the grey seeps into the white around the man. It’s like he’s emerging from the paper, a ghost made of light and shadow. The softness reminds me of those old photos where everything seems a little blurry, like a memory. I’m always fascinated by the edges of things and the dissolution of form. I keep coming back to his eyes. They’re so intense, so focused. They tell a story, don’t they? A story of someone who’s seen a lot, someone who’s lived a life. And those lines around his mouth, they hint at a smile, a warmth that’s hidden beneath the surface. It reminds me a little of a portrait by August Sander, who was interested in capturing the essence of a person, not just their likeness. There's something about portraiture that speaks to our shared humanity. Even though we may not know this man, we can still connect with him on a deeper level. And isn’t that what art is all about?

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