Portret van Eugène van Bemmel 1840 - 1905

François de Meersman made this portrait of Eugène van Bemmel using etching and possibly other techniques. What does it mean to be a man of stature in the 19th century, and how is that identity constructed and conveyed through portraiture? The image captures van Bemmel, presumably a man of importance, with a direct gaze and confident posture. His neatly trimmed beard and formal attire signal respectability and status. But let's think about what isn't shown. What role did gender and class play in determining who got their portrait made and whose stories were told? Whose perspectives were valued and whose were marginalized? The absence of women and people of color in such portraits underscores the power dynamics of the time. It reminds us to critically examine the stories we tell ourselves about history and who gets to be remembered.