Portret van een man, en profil Possibly 1879

This etching, “Portret van een man, en profil,” was made on February 9th of an unknown year by Philip Zilcken. Zilcken was working in a time when artists were thinking deeply about realism versus impressionism. Here we see a man depicted in profile, a traditional pose, yet the execution feels modern. The cross-hatching gives a sense of depth, but it also leaves much to the imagination. Zilcken doesn't give us a perfectly clear picture; instead, we get a sense of a person, a feeling rather than a crystal-clear image. During this period, portraiture was often about conveying the sitter's status and character. However, this etching feels more intimate, as if we're catching a glimpse of a private moment. Zilcken's approach invites us to consider how identity is not just about external presentation but also about the unseen, internal aspects of a person. It touches on the complexities of representation, asking us to look beyond the surface.