Portret van Gabriël van Rooyen 1809

Jacob Ernst Marcus created this small portrait of Gabriël van Rooyen using etching, a printmaking technique, during a period of significant social and political upheaval in Europe. The image presents us with a man dressed in the fashion of the time, a high collared shirt and top hat indicate his social standing. But what does it mean to be seen, to be recorded and remembered in a world that was rapidly changing? Marcus, who was of Jewish descent, lived in a time of shifting identities and increasing social mobility, which influenced the way artists began to portray individuals. The portrait moves beyond traditional, idealized representations and offers a glimpse into the personal identity of the sitter. It invites us to consider the relationship between identity, representation, and social change. It captures not just a likeness, but also something of the spirit of a man living through transformative times.