Portret van Jacob Former 1858

Here we see an undated drawing of Jacob Former, made by an anonymous artist. The composition, contained within a rectangular frame, is dominated by the sitter’s head and shoulders, rendered in a tightly controlled hatching technique. This gives the image a crisp, almost photographic clarity. Look at how the artist uses a subtle range of tonal values to articulate the sitter’s features. From the deep shadows around the eyes and neck to the highlights on the forehead and cheekbones. These tonal contrasts not only give the face three-dimensionality but also evoke a sense of the sitter’s agedness. The artist's semiotic choices—the bow tie, the neatly buttoned coat—all contribute to a representation of Jacob Former as a figure of respectability. It's not just a portrait; it's a statement about social identity and the codes of representation prevalent in its time. The drawing captures not just a likeness, but an embodiment of social values.