Portret van Corneille Kelderman c. 1835 - 1874

This is a portrait of Corneille Kelderman made with etching by T. Liebaert. The image is carefully framed, reflecting the status of the sitter and the conventions of portraiture in the Dutch Golden Age. Notice the sitter’s clothing. The understated elegance speaks to a certain level of affluence, but avoids the ostentation that might signal aristocratic status. This was a culture dominated by merchants and civic leaders; men like Kelderman were the pillars of their communities. We know very little about the artist, but the survival of this image suggests that it was likely commissioned to commemorate Kelderman's life and achievements. The Rijksmuseum’s rich archives may contain further details about the Kelderman family and the local artistic networks of the time. It's through this kind of research that we can start to piece together a richer understanding of the social and institutional context in which this portrait was created.