Bildnis des Peter von Cornelius 

Eugen Eduard Schäffer created this portrait of Peter von Cornelius using pencil on paper. Notice how the drawing is unfinished, with preliminary lines creating a sense of depth and volume. Schäffer masterfully uses shading to define Cornelius's features, giving him a sense of weight and presence. The deliberate incompleteness of the drawing challenges traditional notions of portraiture, inviting us to consider the process of creation itself. The visible underdrawing creates a semiotic space where the act of representation becomes as important as the subject. Consider how the formal qualities of line and shading destabilize the conventions of portraiture, transforming the artwork into an exploration of form and process. The drawing invites a re-evaluation of what constitutes a finished work of art.