Portret van Quinten Massijs (I) 1840

Curator: Felix Bogaerts created this drawing, titled "Portret van Quinten Massijs (I)", in 1840. It’s a pencil drawing on paper, portraying the historical figure Quinten Massijs. Editor: The drawing is delicate, isn’t it? There's a certain melancholy in the subject’s profile and the way the light falls across his face, really a stark use of chiaroscuro here, isn’t it? Curator: Absolutely. It reflects the prevailing academic art style of the time. History paintings and portraiture were about more than just capturing a likeness. The aim was to construct a visual representation that evoked certain virtues and conveyed a sense of historical significance, to tie into a certain lineage. Editor: I see that, though what I’m particularly drawn to is the formal quality of the drawing. The lines are very clean and precise and yet the hatching in the shadow gives him incredible depth. Curator: Considering Bogaerts was working in a period keen to rediscover its artistic past, the choice of Massijs is telling. Massijs, a master painter from the Flemish Renaissance, would have been considered the pinnacle of art historical importance, a great emblem. By drawing his portrait, Bogaerts is paying tribute to that rich artistic lineage. Editor: It’s fascinating how Bogaerts used simple pencil strokes to create textures - the soft fabric of the hat, the fall of the light. How the overall grey of it sets off this reverie of tone. Curator: Right, there’s a decided lack of visual sensationalism. Bogaerts seems invested in making Massijs relatable and human, a conscious rejection of grand historical spectacle. Editor: In any event, the picture provides us much to consider about how one epoch thinks about another. I appreciate its capacity for restraint and thoughtful regard, not qualities typically related to epic art historical representation. Curator: It offers a look at the constant conversation art has with its own past and also serves to show how notions of realism are built as a deliberate construction.