Portret van boekverkoper en schrijver Henry Lemoine 1821 - 1826

Editor: Here we have “Portret van boekverkoper en schrijver Henry Lemoine,” or Portrait of bookseller and writer Henry Lemoine, an engraving made sometime between 1821 and 1826. It's quite striking – almost feels like a character study. I'm curious, what stands out to you? Curator: Well, first, doesn't he just look like he's stepped out of a Dickens novel? He seems weighed down by life, or maybe just a really heavy bag! But think about the Romantic period, and its obsession with the individual, with emotion and… slightly offbeat characters. It's all in that droop, the angle of the hat. Do you get a sense of him as a man of letters, though? Editor: Yes, I can see the Romantic influence! The inscription below even describes him as "The Eccentric Bookseller & Author" Did they really consider that an attraction for customers? Curator: Maybe! The artist here wasn't going for outright flattery. This isn't some nobleman puffing out his chest, is it? It's a different type entirely. Editor: Definitely not. I find myself wondering what was in that bag slung over his shoulder! And his calves, wow, the fashion of the time wasn't flattering to every man. Curator: Precisely! That bag may contain worldly knowledge or last night's dinner! That’s why portraiture is never just about likeness. We're seeing what someone thought was worth remembering and preserving on paper. A window, maybe a peep-hole, into history, right? Editor: Right, so much more than just a face. The work of art invites you to consider an unusual historical figure, how people viewed his status, what he himself carried through life, and what could matter to you as you ponder this portrait.