Portret van Wilhelm van Heythuysen 1847 - 1889

William Unger created this portrait of Wilhelm van Heythuysen using etching techniques. Unger, working in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, lived in a time when the old masters were being re-evaluated through a modern lens. Here, Unger revives the Dutch Golden Age through the figure of van Heythuysen. It is difficult to look at this portrait without considering the legacy of Dutch colonialism and wealth accumulation, which was built on the backs of enslaved people. Van Heythuysen, with his elaborate ruff and confident stance, embodies a certain kind of masculine power that was inextricably linked to economic exploitation. The contrast between the delicate etching technique and the weighty subject matter creates a tension that invites us to consider not just the individual, but the larger systems of power and inequality that shaped his world. It's a reminder that even in the most refined artistic expressions, the echoes of history and the complexities of human experience are ever present.