Portret van Victor Lagye 1892

Josué Dupon rendered this portrait of Victor Lagye in ink, capturing the essence of the sitter through a classical profile. The profile view itself is an interesting motif. This pose can be traced back to ancient Roman portraiture and coinage, a symbol of authority and the noble pursuit of historical documentation through art. Consider how Egyptian pharaohs were depicted, or Renaissance medals immortalizing rulers. The profile flattens the features into a symbolic representation, highlighting the nose, brow, and jawline as markers of identity and character. Here, Lagye is shown as a figure worthy of remembrance, tapping into our collective memory of historical portraiture. The artist’s work engages with our deep-seated understanding of symbolic representation, an engagement that crosses centuries and cultures. It is a powerful psychological anchor, connecting us to the past even as we perceive it in the present. Such non-linear progression demonstrates how cultural symbols resurface and evolve across contexts, creating a continuous dialogue through art.