Dr W. Drees - Vader der Ouden van Dagen 1948 - 1988

This is a metal plaque, likely made by Metaalgieterij Kometal, presenting a portrait of Dr. W. Drees. Its surface, worked in relief, has a tactile quality, with the interplay of light and shadow enhancing the texture and depth of the image. The palette is restrained, predominantly bronzes and dark browns, giving the piece a solemn and reflective mood. The composition centres on Drees's bust, framed tightly within the plaque's rectangular boundary. The formal structure of the artwork seems to resonate with the subject's role, the visual weight of the portrait conveying a sense of authority and historical presence. The plaque functions as a signifier, embedding its subject within a framework of respect and remembrance. Drees is literally cast into a symbolic language through the medium of metal and the formal devices of portraiture. We see how a formal structure, like a portrait plaque, becomes imbued with socio-political meaning.