Medaillon met het portret van Léonard Jéhotte 1833 - 1880

Auguste Numans created this portrait of Léonard Jéhotte using lithography, a printing technique that allows for detailed tonal variations. The composition centres on a profile bust encircled by a precisely rendered medallion. This circular form sits within a rectangular frame defined by subtle gradations of tone, creating a play between containment and expansion. Numans masterfully uses light and shadow to sculpt Jéhotte’s features, lending a three-dimensional quality to the print. The delicate rendering of Jéhotte's hair contrasts with the smooth, unblemished surface of his neck, directing the viewer's attention to his gaze and conveying a sense of his character. The print invites a semiotic reading, with the medallion itself functioning as a signifier of status and permanence. Numans employs the circular form to subtly challenge fixed perspectives, suggesting the subject's multifaceted nature. The artwork asks us to contemplate not just the identity of the sitter, but also the broader questions of representation and the construction of historical memory.