Portret van Daniel Finch, 2e graaf van Nottingham 1741 - 1743

Jacob Houbraken made this print of Daniel Finch, the 2nd Earl of Nottingham, sometime in the 18th century. The Dutch artist’s engraving captures Finch in an elaborate oval frame, complete with his coat of arms. Looking at the image, we see a man of status: the wig, the ermine trim, and the crown all speak to his high rank in British society. But it's not just a record of a powerful man; it's also a statement about the social order of the time. The image operates within a network of social relations and hierarchies. To truly understand this print, we need to dig deeper into the context of 18th-century Britain. Researching the history of the Finch family, the politics of the time, and the role of portraiture in shaping public image can reveal more about the cultural work this image performed. It reminds us that art is never created in a vacuum.