Portret van de beeldhouwer Léonard de Cuyper, halffiguur 1861

Joseph Dupont captured this half-figure portrait of the sculptor Léonard de Cuyper using photography, a medium then still in its relative infancy. What immediately strikes us is the photograph's composition, dominated by a muted palette of browns and grays that lend it an air of solemnity. Dupont masterfully uses light and shadow to sculpt de Cuyper’s face, emphasizing the planes and contours that speak to the sculptor's own artistic sensibilities. The play of light across his brow and cheekbones draws our attention to his gaze, which is direct and contemplative. The formal arrangement, with its emphasis on the sitter's face and upper body, directs our focus to the subject’s character. Consider, too, how the photograph’s tonality serves to flatten the image, reducing depth to emphasize shape and form. It is in this delicate balance between representation and abstraction that we can truly appreciate Dupont's vision.