Mevrouw A.J. Schmidt-Keiser, weduwe van de schilder Willem Hendrik Schmidt (1809-49), de leermeester van Jacob Spoel, met haar broer J.N. Keiser en haar tienjarig zoontje 1858

Jacob Spoel painted this group portrait of Mevrouw A.J. Schmidt-Keiser with her brother and son, sometime in the mid-19th century, in the Netherlands. The image encapsulates the social conventions and aspirations of the Dutch middle class during that period. Consider the composition, with the widow Schmidt-Keiser centrally placed and the son and brother flanking her. The dark clothing and the serious expressions reflect the somber tone often associated with mourning and the responsibilities of widowhood in the 19th century. The brother’s presence suggests the support networks and familial duties that were crucial in Dutch society. The painting within the painting behind the subjects indicates the cultural milieu of the family and commemorates her dead husband. To fully understand this work, we can explore the socio-economic history of the Netherlands at the time, the family relations, and artistic conventions of Dutch portraiture through archive material, such as letters or household inventories. This artwork thus becomes a window into the social and institutional context of its creation.