Buste van Josephus Albertus Alberdingk Thijm (1820-1889), katholiek letterkundige en handelsman en sokkel van zwart graniet met grijs mica. c. 1900

Here, we see a bust of Josephus Albertus Alberdingk Thijm, a 19th-century Catholic scholar and merchant, sculpted by Hein J. Maessen. Consider the historical and cultural context of this piece. Thijm was a man of letters and commerce in a society undergoing significant change. What does it mean to be both a man of faith and a man of business during a time of industrial expansion? Maessen's sculpture prompts us to think about the narratives of success and virtue that were being promoted. What does this sculpture, with its classical form, convey about Thijm's identity and his place in the social order? Does it reinforce traditional representations of masculinity and authority, or does it offer alternative narratives?