Portret van een man, naar rechts 1849

Jan Cornelis van Rossum created this portrait of a man, sometime in the 19th century, using graphite pencil on paper. The fine hatching and cross-hatching indicates an extensive amount of labor, slowly building up the form and volume of the sitter’s figure and clothing. The artist has used the inherent qualities of graphite - its ability to create soft gradations of tone and texture - to suggest the fall of light across the man's face and the drape of his jacket. Although the exact date is unknown, the precision and detail hint at the growing industrialization of the period. The development of mass production, coupled with the growing middle class, meant there was a greater demand for portraiture. Graphite pencils are also relatively inexpensive and readily available, making it an accessible medium for artists seeking to capture likenesses for a broader clientele. In considering the materials, making process, and context of this work, we move beyond traditional art distinctions and recognize the cultural and social significance embedded within it.