Portret van Willem, prins der Nederlanden 1858 - 1949

This portrait of Willem, Prince of the Netherlands, was made anonymously at an unknown date, but it's the marks that speak to me. Look closely, and you'll see the cross-hatching that builds up the form. The artist doesn't try to hide the labor, but the meticulous work becomes the point. It’s like they are saying, ‘Look, I made this. I put in the time.’ It’s a real process moment. There’s something about the flatness of the figure that I enjoy too. You can see the way the artist is trying to capture the likeness, but the image refuses to come completely into focus. What are they trying to say by keeping Willem somewhat unknowable? I like this print because it reminds me of the work of Jasper Johns, who also takes familiar images and makes them strange through the process of artmaking. Art is an ongoing conversation after all.