Portret van Joseph Jacops 1840 - 1842

This is a self-portrait by Joseph Jacobs, made with graphite on paper, sometime in the first half of the 19th century. On the face of it, this work seems straightforward; a drawing of a man in a coat and cap. But the very directness of the graphite medium, and the intimacy of the portrait, draws us in to consider Jacobs’s life and times. Graphite pencils, although simple, were a relatively recent innovation at this point, having been developed only a few decades prior. This points to an artist who was engaged with modern materials, and their capacity for both precision and nuance. It's a reminder that all art is inextricably linked to the world of making, whether we are talking about a humble graphite drawing, or a grand history painting. By considering the means of production, we enrich our appreciation of the final result.