Buste van Dr. Petrus Josephus Hubertus Cuypers (1827-1921), architect 1912

This marble bust of Dr. Petrus Josephus Hubertus Cuypers, the architect, was carved by Toon Dupuis. Just look at how the material is made to resemble flesh, hair, and fabric with such care and control. I can imagine Dupuis circling the stone, thinking about this guy Cuypers. He probably spent days working out how to make the soft folds of the jacket and the wizened skin around the eyes. The hands are so delicately folded. There is such great skill and precision in capturing the likeness and, not only that, but the very essence of the man. It makes me think about the endless possibilities that an artist sees in a material, and how they use their skill to make something real. It is a beautiful thing. One artist, immortalizing another.