Portret van Jacques Collin de Plancy 1819 - 1880

Franciscus Bernardus Waanders created this portrait of Jacques Collin de Plancy, using printmaking, a process notable for its capacity to reproduce images and disseminate them widely. The composition presents a play of light and shadow, skillfully rendered to give volume to de Plancy’s features and attire. Notice how the dense hatching around the beard contrasts with the smoother textures of the face, drawing our attention to the sitter’s gaze. Waanders uses delicate, closely spaced lines to build form and texture. The background is subtly suggested, implying depth without distracting from the central figure. This work functions as more than a mere likeness. The artist’s command of line and tone elevates the piece. Through this method, Waanders captures not just the physical appearance but also alludes to the intellectual presence of de Plancy, inviting us to consider the relationship between representation and identity.