Portret van een onbekende man before 1902

This photogravure, "Portret van een onbekende man," was created by Frederick Hollyer. Here the figure, composed through subtle gradations of light and shadow, reveals a meticulous study of form. Hollyer’s approach to light can be read as a visual poetics in its own right, lending both presence and a degree of mystery to the sitter. Through the careful manipulation of light and shadow, Hollyer draws attention to the interplay between what is revealed and what remains hidden, suggesting that identity is never fully transparent. The texture and tonality achieved through the photogravure process further add to the photograph's aesthetic value. The photograph’s emphasis on light and texture functions as a signifier, encouraging a deeper consideration of photography as a medium capable of capturing not just visual likeness but also the more elusive aspects of human character.