Portret van Jacob van Campen 1661 - 1700

This drawing is an anonymous portrait of Jacob van Campen, rendered with delicate strokes on paper. Van Campen was a towering figure in the Dutch Golden Age, an artist whose influence extended into architecture, shaping the very landscape of the Netherlands. In the drawing, we see him as an emblem of his time, a man whose identity was deeply entwined with the burgeoning sense of Dutch power and cultural identity. His architecture helped to define the aesthetic of a nation navigating its newfound independence. But look closer, and you might ask questions about who has been excluded from this narrative of progress. The Golden Age was, after all, built on the backs of colonialism and trade, creating wealth for some, and hardship for many others. Consider this drawing a doorway into a conversation about how we memorialize the past and whose stories are told. It’s an invitation to reflect on the complexities of history, and the responsibility we have to ensure that all voices are heard.