Portret van Jacob van Lennep 1859 - 1873

Wilhelmus Cornelis Chimaer van Oudendorp made this portrait of Jacob van Lennep with a burin. The Dutch Golden Age of the 17th century had established portraiture as a means of celebrating civic virtue, but by the 19th century it had become something more – a celebration of class identity. Van Lennep came from an elite family and this engraving mimics the style of painted portraits that had long been the preserve of the wealthy. Consider the details: his hairstyle, his bow tie, and his jacket, all speak to his high social standing. Looking at the artwork through a social lens, it prompts the question, what was the relationship between artistic representation and social class in the Netherlands during this period? How did institutions like art academies shape artistic styles? Delving into Van Lennep's biography, researching the artistic conventions of the time, and exploring the Dutch class structure might further illuminate this image.