Ernst Cohen hoogleraar te Utrecht 1902-1939

This bronze plaque portraying Ernst Cohen was made by Jacob Jan van Goor, and even though it’s not dated, it commemorates Cohen’s tenure as a professor in Utrecht from 1902 to 1939, so it likely dates from around that time. The bronze has this gorgeous, warm patina, and the whole thing is like a little world, isn’t it? Look at the way Van Goor handles the surface. It’s not just a smooth, idealized portrait. You can see the subtle textures, the slight imperfections, the way the light catches on the cheek. The bronze seems to remember the touch of the artist. The shadow under the chin and the slope of the nose are particularly good. It feels human, somehow, and alive. The plaque reminds me of the work of Medardo Rosso, who also worked with bronze to make portrait busts. Both artists invite us to consider the relationship between representation and abstraction. It's not about perfection. It’s about capturing the essence of a person, their spirit, through the aliveness of the material.