Portret van Charles Dickens met Handtekening

What it is

This is a black-and-white lithographic portrait of a seated young man with wavy shoulder-length hair, resting an arm on an upholstered armchair. Beneath the image is a handwritten signature identified as Dickens's own, along with a printed credit line. It is held by the Rijksmuseum.

Why it matters

Signed portraits like this one were often sold or given as keepsakes, showing how Dickens's fame was commercialized through printed images. The signature adds a personal authenticating touch to a mass-produced print, blending celebrity culture with artistic reproduction.

Look closer

• Why might a printed portrait include a handwritten signature beneath it?
• What does the young man's clothing and pose suggest about the image he wanted to present?
• How does this portrait differ from photographs of Dickens made later in his life?