Portret van Cornelis van Aerssen 1855 - 1857

Jan Frederik Christiaan Reckleben created this portrait of Cornelis van Aerssen, though the exact date of its creation is unknown. Reckleben, living in the 19th century, revives a notable figure from the Dutch Golden Age, inviting a dialogue between distinct historical moments. This engraving encapsulates the stratified nature of 17th-century Dutch society. Van Aerssen, a statesman and diplomat, is presented with the sternness and gravity befitting his high status. Every aspect of the portrayal, from his elaborate ruff to the heraldic crest beneath him, speaks of power and lineage, reinforcing a rigid social hierarchy. Yet, in Reckleben’s hands, this portrait also becomes a reflection on the nature of historical memory and national identity. Reckleben seems to be asking, what do we choose to remember, and what do we leave behind? How do we grapple with a past that is both glorious and deeply implicated in systems of inequality?