Portret van een onbekende man 1907 - 1922

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?