Portret van een man in een lange jas, leunend op een stapel boeken c. 1863 - 1867

This is Henri Pronk’s portrait of a man in a long coat, leaning on a stack of books. The sepia tone of the photograph gives the portrait a feeling of distance. The subject is presented in a formal arrangement, seated and posed with a hand thoughtfully placed to his face. The man is carefully positioned within the frame; his figure takes up most of the space, with the books acting as a visual anchor. The books and draped fabric are elements that structure the image, establishing both depth and a sense of formality. Pronk uses light and shadow to articulate the man's features, drawing our attention to his gaze. In the context of portraiture, this work operates within established codes of representation. However, the man's contemplative pose challenges the stoic conventions typical of formal portraits, inviting the viewer to engage in a kind of psychological reading. The textures and tones of the sepia medium contribute to this effect, lending the scene an air of introspection. Ultimately, the interplay between form and expression is what makes this image so engaging. Pronk asks us to consider what it means to portray an individual—not just as a physical likeness, but as a complex subject.