Willem Steelink II (1856-1928). Graficus 1900 - 1916

Curator: Ah, this is Willem Steelink II's portrait of Nicolaas van der Waay, a piece made somewhere between 1900 and 1916, done in oil paint. Editor: There’s an air of quiet contemplation to this, wouldn't you agree? The way the light catches his profile, it almost feels like he's caught in a fleeting moment of reflection. He looks both imposing and pensive all at once. Curator: Precisely. The sitter's direct gaze coupled with the profile view offers a complex presentation. In portraiture, a profile traditionally signified distance or a formal record, but here, the soft lighting and almost palpable texture complicate that reading. It feels intimate, not detached. This combination often represents the internal life of the individual made visible. Editor: Absolutely. I get this feeling of delving beneath the surface. I find it compelling, actually! All that textural impasto work enhances the human touch; you can almost see the artist wrestling with capturing not just likeness, but a sense of the inner landscape of the person. What do you think were some possible influences on the piece? Curator: We might see intimism at play. Artists who captured quiet domestic scenes and portraits conveying psychological depth. Think Vuillard, perhaps even early Bonnard. Editor: Hmm, makes you wonder what Van der Waay was thinking at the moment this work was captured. Like we were able to take a little peak! Did the symbolism from the neckwear stand for anything? Curator: Absolutely. The bow tie carries associations with intellect, perhaps artistic expression or it symbolizes refined social standing of the time, connecting him with the cultural milieu of the era. It is a component contributing to the image he projected. Editor: Ah, excellent point, as always! This portrait serves as a gentle reminder, maybe? Like to capture the quiet essence of the everyday? Curator: Yes. The painting captures the mood, nuance, and the rich inner life suggested just behind the sitter's gaze, which seems to beckon across the years. Editor: Thanks! I think I will reflect a little longer with him.