Portret van William Howley, aartsbisschop van Canterbury 1841

Curator: Looking at Émilien Desmaisons' rendering of William Howley, Archbishop of Canterbury from 1841, a pencil drawing, there’s a certain austerity that radiates, isn’t there? A kind of somber elegance. Editor: Somber is the word. I find it very reserved, almost stoic. The light seems to drain the color right out. The whole piece feels subdued. Curator: It's the very particular technique of pencil drawing—the controlled shading, the precise lines – that contribute to that effect. It emphasizes texture and form without the distraction of color, forcing us to consider the structure, if you will, of the man himself. Note the contrast, for example, in Howley’s pale wig against the darker tones of his attire and chair. The artist guides our eyes right where they need to go. Editor: Right, you immediately grasp Howley’s… presence. I can't say warmth. There's a real clarity to his gaze, a composed kind of knowing, but at a distance. Also, look at how the items on the table, books, the writing implements, echo the verticality of his figure, enhancing his formality and the controlled atmosphere. Curator: Perhaps his station demanded that composure? I imagine Howley wouldn't have wanted a fluffy, jovial portrait of himself for posterity. But it’s interesting to think how the Romanticism of the era influences this realism, or the Academic tradition adds certain constraints to a spontaneous style. Editor: You do wonder, looking at it today, what personal aspects may have been suppressed for the sake of projecting an image. There's such artful control and so little… outburst. It whispers more than shouts. Still, I like how something as modest as a pencil drawing can make us muse on identity. Curator: Precisely. This work beautifully illustrates how constraints often fuel creativity; a limitation on tools demands ingenuity in expression. It has certainly provided much to reflect upon. Editor: Indeed. A portrait of a time and a person, patiently waiting to be unwrapped.