Zittende man met baard en ruime, donkere mantel houdt een gesloten boek vast

About this artwork

collector's mark: Lugt 2228

Art Historical Context

Behold *Zittende man met baard enime, donkere mantel houdt een gesloten boek vast* (Seated Man with Beard and Ample Dark Mantle Holding a Closed Book), a lithography by French artist Adolphe Mouon, created sometime between 1830 and1880. This imposing print, measuring 504 × 352 mm, captures a bearded figure seated in contemplative repose, his voluminous dark mantle draping elegantly as he clutches a closed book. The dignified pose evokes the archetype of the scholar or philosopher, a common motif in 19th-century portraiture that celebrated intellectual life amid Europe's Romantic and Realist currents. Lithography, Mouilleron's favored medium, revolutionized printmaking in the 1800s by allowing artists to draw directly on stone for nuanced tonal effects and fine details—far surpassing earlier techniques like engraving. Mouilleron, active in Paris, excelled in such portraits and illustrations, producing works that bridged fine art and affordable reproduction for a growing middle-class audience. This piece's substantial scale suggests it was intended for display, blending intimacy with grandeur. A highlight for collectors: the print bears Lugt 2228, the mark of renowned Dutch connoisseur Frits Lugt, whose vast print collection underscores its enduring artistic merit and historical provenance. Step closer and ponder the mystery of this silent reader—a timeless emblem of quiet wisdom.

About the Artist

Adolphe Mouilleron · 1820–1881

Adolphe Mouilleron (1820–1881) was a French painter and lithographer whose significant contributions to French printmaking and co-founding role in the artists' collective 'Les Artistes Contemporains' made him an important figure in mid-19th-century Parisian art. Born in Paris on December 20, 1820, Mouilleron achieved recognition through both his original lithographs and paintings, earning multiple...