Portret van Charles Sluijt c. 1883

This is Piet Verhaert’s portrait of Charles Sluijt, made using etching. The image is strikingly dark, printed within a square that floats on the page. The composition, focusing on the subject's head and shoulders, is framed by a tightly controlled field of darkness, emphasizing the sitter’s contemplative expression. Verhaert masterfully uses the etching technique to create a nuanced tonal range. The dense, hatched lines build areas of shadow that contrast with the stark white of the paper, creating a play of light and dark that sculpts Sluijt’s features. Look at how the hatching varies in density and direction, guiding the eye and creating a sense of volume and texture. The formal structure of the portrait – its manipulation of light and dark, its focus on texture and line – invite a semiotic reading. The image challenges the viewer to question conventional notions of identity and representation, and to consider the role of the artist in interpreting and constructing meaning.