Portret van Johannes Petrus Hasebroek 1855 - 1909

This is Friedrich Wilhelm Burmeister’s “Portret van Johannes Petrus Hasebroek,” an engraving now held at the Rijksmuseum. The subject is framed by an oval shape with strong lines, set against a muted background. Hasebroek's figure is rendered with close attention to detail, from the soft curls of his hair to the texture of his jacket. Consider the semiotic interplay at work here. The engraving's medium—lines etched into a plate—creates a sense of formality and distance. The detailed rendering of Hasebroek signifies status and intellect, aligning with 19th-century conventions of portraiture. Yet, the use of an oval frame also introduces a sense of containment, perhaps hinting at the limitations of representation itself. In its form, the engraving embodies the tension between capturing likeness and acknowledging the constructed nature of images. It invites us to consider how portraiture not only reflects but also shapes our perceptions of identity and representation.