Silhouetportret van Jan Brandes junior 1783

This is a silhouette portrait of Jan Brandes Junior, created by Jan Brandes. It presents a stark profile, a dark figure set against a light background. In the late 18th century, silhouettes were a popular and affordable form of portraiture, capturing a likeness with striking simplicity. The profile itself is an ancient motif. Consider the Roman emperors on coins, their profiles stamped into currency, symbols of power and legacy. In this silhouette, the profile is less about power and more about presence, a shadow that evokes memory. Think of the psychological weight of shadows in dreams and myths. The act of capturing a person's likeness, even in shadow, is deeply symbolic. It is a desire to hold onto a moment, a person, a life. The silhouette, as a shadow, suggests something hidden, a depth beneath the surface, inviting us to contemplate what is seen and unseen in the human form.