Silhouetportret van George Andries Roth - Elisabeth Alida Haanen

A refined silhouette portrait of George Andries Roth by Dutch artist Elisabeth Alida Haanen, featuring clean lines and a classic profile composition.

This work is a silhouette portrait of George Andries Roth, executed by the Dutch artist Elisabeth Alida Haanen. The portrait captures the subject in profile, a format that gained popularity during the early nineteenth century as a method for recording likenesses before the widespread adoption of photography. Haanen employs a solid black ink fill to define the facial features and attire, creating a stark contrast against the cream-coloured paper background. The precision of the outline conveys the specific physiognomy of the sitter, while the minimal use of colour within the silhouette itself maintains the focus on the subject's profile. The composition is framed by a simple, hand-drawn rectangular border, which provides a sense of structure to the page. Below the silhouette, the subject's name is inscribed in a cursive script, adding a personal dimension to the document. The inclusion of the word 'Schilder' (painter) at the top suggests this may have been part of a larger collection or a series documenting individuals of a specific profession. Haanen, who was known for her genre paintings and portraits, demonstrates here a mastery of the silhouette medium, balancing the economy of line with the necessity of capturing a recognisable likeness. The work reflects the period's interest in personal identity and the documentation of the middle class. The clean lines and monochromatic palette make this an example of early nineteenth-century portraiture, where the focus remains on the clarity of the silhouette and the elegance of the presentation.