Portret van vermoedelijk Eugène Garsonnet before 1877

This portrait of presumably Eugène Garsonnet is part of an unbound illustrated book. The composition invites us to consider contrasts in form and texture. On the left we have a framed portrait of Eugène Garsonnet. Its sepia tones and smooth surface convey a sense of traditional formality. Garsonnet’s direct gaze and symmetrical pose create a focal point, yet his image is understated, almost fading into the page. Conversely, on the right, the typography and design suggest a more active visual field, though the details are obscured. The surrounding marbled patterns, with their swirling colors, provide a stark contrast, disrupting the expected uniformity of the book. This interplay between clarity and ambiguity invites us to decode the book’s structure, questioning the boundaries between representation and abstraction.