Arnold Adriaan Buyskes (1771-1838). Commissaris-generaal (1816-19) c. 1865

This is an anonymous painting of Arnold Adriaan Buyskes, Commissaris-generaal, made with oil on panel. It presents a tightly framed portrait of Buyskes, set against a muted brown background. The subject's formal attire, dominated by a navy coat with gold embellishments, immediately signals authority and status. The artist employs a traditional composition, focusing on the face with meticulous detail. Note how the artist uses the play of light and shadow to model Buyskes's face, capturing a sense of his individual character. The precise brushwork and the smooth finish contribute to a sense of realism, while the symmetry of the composition conveys order. The square format challenges the conventional rectangular framing of portraits from this period. This disruption invites us to consider how such formal choices can destabilize established meanings, prompting a re-evaluation of portraiture's role in representing power and identity.