Portret van Gijsbert Waller Possibly 1850 - 1858

Editor: Here we have "Portret van Gijsbert Waller" attributed to Johann Peter Berghaus, made sometime between 1850 and 1858. It's a graphite and engraving print. It's compelling, the rendering feels very precise, especially the face and clothing. How would you interpret this portrait from a formalist perspective? Curator: Thank you. Initially, observe how the engraver utilized line quality and tonal variation to model the sitter’s features. Light and shadow are deployed to create form. Consider also the relationship between the figure and the negative space. The composition directs the viewer’s eye. Does the artist’s focus on minute detail, say in the buttons of his waistcoat, enhance or detract from the overall composition? Editor: That’s an interesting point about the buttons. They are rendered with surprising detail, almost hyperreal compared to the rest. Perhaps it is an intentional emphasis? I hadn't noticed that. What is the relationship between those small details and the geometric symmetry of his jacket, if any? Curator: Precisely. Now, let us analyze the lines further. We can see that cross-hatching gives way to parallel lines across the face to delineate depth and form. What does that intentional application communicate? Editor: It highlights the angularity of his features, making him appear perhaps a bit severe, rigid, like a mathematical equation in the face itself! Curator: Exactly! Berghaus masterfully uses graphic elements to suggest depth and impart meaning, and now, we see this emphasis isn't necessarily on external beauty, but on structural elements. Does this exploration change your view of the artwork? Editor: It does, completely. I’ll never see those little buttons the same way! Thank you.