Portret van François Dolez, burgemeester van Mons 1877

Editor: Here we have Auguste Danse’s "Portrait of François Dolez, Burgomaster of Mons", rendered in pencil back in 1877. The subject appears rather serious, almost severe. What captures your attention when you view this drawing? Curator: Ah, yes, Dolez. What whispers to me are those mutton chops. I mean, really! They’re so incredibly… bushy. They're a veritable statement piece! But look beyond the follicular extravagance. Notice how Danse manages to convey Dolez's power, that civic gravitas, all with the humble pencil. Have you considered the quiet rebellion of using such a delicate tool for such a weighty subject? Editor: Rebellion? I suppose I hadn’t considered that angle. It does feel rather understated for a portrait of a mayor. Curator: Exactly! Imagine the official portraits of the time—the oils, the grand canvases, the bombast. Then here comes Danse, saying, "Hold on, let's strip it all back, see what's underneath". There’s a vulnerability in a pencil sketch, isn’t there? It suggests immediacy, intimacy. I wonder if Dolez approved. Editor: That's a good point. I’d imagine most politicians prefer to be immortalized with a little…flourish. This feels remarkably direct. It makes you consider the person beneath the title. Curator: And doesn't that, in itself, feel radical? I feel he caught more than just Dolez likeness in the image! Editor: Definitely! This gives me a whole new perspective on portraiture and the power of simplicity.