Portret van Carel baron van Boetzelaer 1744 - 1794

Jean Humbert made this portrait of Carel baron van Boetzelaer, though the date it was created is unknown. The piece gives us insight into the hierarchical structure of 18th-century Dutch society. Van Boetzelaer’s confident pose and aristocratic dress indicate his status and power. During the 1700s, portraits were not merely representations but tools of social positioning and performed identity. The baron’s gaze, while direct, holds a certain aloofness, reflecting the privileges of his class. But consider, too, the artist Humbert, carefully navigating the social terrain to secure such commissions. This portrait invites us to reflect on how class, privilege, and representation intersect, revealing both the visible and invisible dynamics of power at play in the Dutch Golden Age.