Portret van Adriaan Pietersz. Loosjes 1797 - 1836

This is Philippus Velijn’s portrait of Adriaan Pietersz Loosjes, rendered with a height of 125 mm and a width of 100 mm. The technique used is a print on paper. The initial impression is one of formal austerity, a study in contrasts achieved through delicate hatching and cross-hatching. The subject emerges from a light background, his form defined by subtle gradations of tone rather than bold outlines. Note how the gaze of Loosjes establishes a direct engagement, a subtle invitation framed within the formal conventions of portraiture. Velijn’s work operates within a semiotic framework that reflects the values and intellectual currents of its time. The composition, carefully balanced and proportioned, speaks to a desire for order and rationality. The lines and patterns of the coat, the arrangement of light and shadow, collectively function as signs within a larger cultural code. Ultimately, Velijn invites us to consider how representation itself shapes our understanding of identity and meaning.