Portret van Michał Ludwik Pac 1840 - 1855

This is Tobias Falke’s diminutive portrait of Michał Ludwik Pac. Its dimensions are only 170 by 119 mm, and it presents us with a study in monochromatic tonality. Falke’s masterful use of hatching and cross-hatching, evident in the gradients across Pac’s face and garments, gives depth to the image. The lines create areas of light and shadow which mold the contours of the General’s features. The stark contrast of the dark coat against the light background draws our eye and enhances Pac's commanding presence, underscoring his martial importance. Beyond the aesthetic, the engraving technique employed here is not merely representational; it echoes the broader cultural investment in precision and clarity characteristic of the period. This portrait, therefore, becomes an artifact, reflecting the values and the technologies of its time. What might this interplay of formal elements tell us about portraiture’s role in constructing historical memory?