Portret van Willem, prins der Nederlanden 1850 - 1866

André Symphorien Barreau Taurel created this portrait of Willem, Prince of the Netherlands, using lithography. The image is structured around a central figure whose gaze meets ours, framed tightly from the chest up. What immediately strikes us is the graphic clarity achieved through contrasting tones. The figure emerges from a soft background, the details meticulously rendered using a network of fine lines. The artist’s manipulation of light and shadow not only models the form but also conveys a certain depth of character. Taurel invites us to consider how representation in portraiture is constructed. This work functions as both a likeness and an interpretation, opening a field for continued dialogue.