Portret van een onbekende man 1899 - 1908

This small portrait of an unknown man was made by Verbeke-Schodts Fils. The sepia tones are faded now, softened with time, but the moustache remains defiant! It’s like the image is barely there, like it’s about to fade away. The surface is smooth, but there are subtle variations in tone that give a sense of depth. See the way the light catches the edge of his jacket, or the gentle curve of his cheek? I can imagine them working with painstaking detail, slowly building up the image layer by layer, like a drawing, or even a painting. Looking at this piece, I’m reminded of the work of Gerhard Richter, who also explored the possibilities of blurred and indistinct imagery. Both artists seem interested in the way that images can both reveal and conceal, inviting us to look closer and question what we think we see. Ultimately, this portrait is a reminder that art is not about providing easy answers, but about asking questions and embracing ambiguity.