Portret van een onbekende man 1894 - 1920

This small portrait of an unknown man was made by Adolf Héron, probably using photographic techniques common at the time. I love how the sepia tones create a kind of soft focus, like a memory half-recalled. It reminds me of old family photos, where the edges blur and the faces seem to emerge from a mist of time. The subject is formally dressed, but his slightly asymmetrical tie hints at a casualness. It's like he's trying to look proper, but there's a little rebellion bubbling beneath the surface. Look at the way the light catches his cheekbones, creating subtle shadows that give his face depth. The background is almost nonexistent, pushing him forward, making him the sole focus. It's interesting to think about what Héron wanted to capture here. Was it just a likeness, or something more? Maybe it’s like those portraits by Nadar, who made similar images of artists and writers, attempting to capture something of their souls, their inner lives, just by the way they held themselves.