Portret van Johan van Duvenvoorde 1858 - 1862

This is Frederik Hendrik Weissenbruch’s “Portret van Johan van Duvenvoorde”, an etching that is held at the Rijksmuseum. Made by Weissenbruch, who belonged to the Hague School, this portrait encapsulates the Dutch interest in realism and the everyday, even when depicting nobility. Johan van Duvenvoorde stands with a hand confidently placed on his hip, and his other hand rests on what appears to be a globe. The etching gives us a glimpse into the values of the Dutch elite and their relationship to global exploration. Although Weissenbruch lived in a time of significant societal change, his portraits often reflect traditional representations of power. Yet, there is also something quietly rebellious in the way he captures his subjects: not as untouchable figures, but as individuals with a tangible presence. Weissenbruch uses a delicate but firm hand, making visible how one views oneself, and how one wants to be seen by others.