Man in a square cap, in profile right 1758 - 1787

James Hazard created this etching of a man in a square cap, in profile right, in the late 18th century. Its location in the Rijksmuseum signals the enduring power of portraiture to capture likenesses for posterity. Made in England, this image participates in a visual culture of social class and economic life that defined the period. The square cap itself is a reference to the kinds of hats worn by scholars and academics, suggesting that the portrait commemorates a man of learning. But, in representing his subject in profile, Hazard also references the tradition of classical coins, thus associating his sitter with the political and financial authority of the Roman Empire. The cross-hatching effect of the printmaking method adds a sense of immediacy and 'authenticity' to the image, as if it were a quickly-made sketch from life. The role of the historian here is to unearth and explain the visual codes by which this image makes meaning. Research into the history of fashion, education, and portraiture would surely shed light on the man represented here.