Portret van Admiraal Jan Willem de Winter 1752 - 1823

Editor: So, this is a graphite drawing titled 'Portret van Admiraal Jan Willem de Winter,' dating roughly from 1752 to 1823, currently housed in the Rijksmuseum, and attributed to Johannes Cornelis Mertens. I find it strangely… haunting, despite its straightforwardness. It feels almost like a ghost of a portrait. What strikes you when you look at it? Curator: Haunting is the perfect word! It’s the kind of portrait that whispers secrets. The oval frame emphasizes that feeling of peering into another time. Notice the precise pencil work; each line seems to carry the weight of history, yet there’s an incredible lightness to it all. It’s like Mertens is sketching a memory rather than capturing a likeness. And Jan Willem's steely gaze – what do you make of that? Editor: Well, he definitely seems like he means business. Perhaps that’s the “admiral” coming through. I wonder if the lack of color adds to the sense of gravity, even stoicism. Curator: Precisely. Stripping away the color focuses our attention on the bone structure, the shading around the eyes – the very essence of the man. It almost feels…vulnerable, doesn’t it? Despite the military uniform. As if we're seeing behind the bluster to a more personal truth. Do you get a sense of his inner world? Editor: Now that you mention it, yes! It’s not just a stiff, official portrait. There's something surprisingly human in his eyes. It makes you wonder about his life, his experiences. Curator: And that, I think, is the magic of portraiture at its finest. It transcends mere representation and offers a fleeting glimpse into the soul. Think of all that he lived through! Now, imagine what tales this drawing could tell if it only could… Editor: I never thought a simple pencil drawing could be so evocative. I'll definitely look at portraits differently from now on. Curator: Wonderful! Sometimes the greatest depths are found in the simplest forms.