Portret van Fr. Vict. Ant. de Watteville c. 1851 - 1883

This is a portrait of Fr. Vict. Ant. de Watteville by Johan Hendrik Hoffmeister, created using lithography. The composition is immediately striking in its simplicity. The sitter is centrally positioned, engaging the viewer directly. The subtle gradations of tone achieved through lithography create soft transitions of light and shadow, emphasizing the textures of fabric and skin. The figure is presented from the chest up; the artist uses line work and careful shading to create depth and volume. What makes this piece particularly compelling is the way it challenges traditional portraiture. The sitter is not presented in a grandiose setting, which might have communicated authority and status. Instead, the focus is on the individual, drawing attention to the subtle nuances of expression and posture. Hoffmeister's lithograph invites us to consider how meaning is constructed not just through representation, but also through form and composition. By simplifying the visual field, it amplifies the emotional and psychological presence of the sitter.