Portret van Theophile de Bock - Jan Holswilder

A 1889 lithographic portrait of the Dutch painter Theophile de Bock, captured by Jan Holswilder in his studio.

This lithographic portrait depicts the Dutch painter Theophile de Bock (1851-1904), a figure associated with the Hague School. Created by Jan Holswilder in 1889, the work appeared as part of the series Beroemde Tijdgenoten (Famous Contemporaries) in the publication De Lantaarn. The print captures the subject in a three-quarter view, seated before an easel that displays one of his own works.

Holswilder employs a confident, sketch-like line quality that defines the contours of the sitter and the surrounding environment. The shading is achieved through varied hatching, which provides volume to the figure and depth to the background. The composition balances the portrait of the artist with the presence of his own creative output, suggesting a professional identity rooted in the act of painting. The inclusion of the easel serves to contextualise de Bock within his studio practice.

As a document of late nineteenth-century Dutch art, this print offers a glimpse into the social and professional circles of the period. The technical execution reflects the capabilities of lithography as a medium for mass-produced portraiture, allowing for the dissemination of artists' likenesses to a wider audience. The text at the top and bottom of the sheet provides provenance and identification, typical of the editorial standards for such publications in the 1880s. This print remains a clear example of the graphic portraiture produced during this era, maintaining a focus on the individual character of the sitter through direct, unadorned observation.