Cup with the portrait of Cornelis de Gijselaar after 1794

This is a delicate porcelain cup, decorated with a portrait of Cornelis de Gijselaar, made in the Netherlands, likely in the late 18th century. Though the artist is unknown, the cup offers a fascinating glimpse into the political and social landscape of the Dutch Republic during a period of significant upheaval. Cornelis de Gijselaar was a prominent lawyer and a leading figure in the Patriot movement, which sought to reform the Dutch Republic's oligarchic system and increase citizen participation in government. The cup, then, functions as a kind of political memorabilia, meant to signal the owner's allegiance to the Patriot cause. The cup’s creation also reflects the growing commercialization of art and the rise of a consumer culture. The mass production of commemorative objects like this allowed political ideas to circulate more widely and fostered a sense of collective identity among supporters. Examining estate inventories, pamphlets, and other printed matter from the period help to paint a richer picture of the cup’s function within Dutch society. Ultimately, it reminds us that art is always embedded in a specific social and institutional context.