Portret van Cornelis Houthoff 1727

Jacob Houbraken made this print of Cornelis Houthoff, a Dutch theologian, using engraving techniques. The portrait is framed by an inscription that names Houthoff and the year 1683, alongside Rotterdam and Amsterdam, marking his presence in these cities. The print embodies the cultural value placed on learned men within Dutch society of the time. Prints like this served a public role, disseminating images and ideas in an era before photography. The choice of engraving, a medium that allows for detailed reproduction, suggests an intention to create a lasting image of Houthoff. The presence of the inscription underscores the institutional context, linking Houthoff to religious and intellectual circles. Historians examine such images through archival research. By studying period documents, we can better understand the social conditions that shaped the production of this print and the role it played in the cultural landscape.