Portret van Johannes de Mare c. 1816 - 1949

This is a portrait of Johannes de Mare made by an anonymous artist, and its intimate scale suggests it was meant for personal appreciation. The portrait gives us a glimpse into the world of 19th-century Dutch society. De Mare's confident gaze and fashionable attire speak to the values of the bourgeois class. During this period, portraiture was largely a privilege of the affluent, used to affirm social standing. The artist's rendering of De Mare, with careful attention to detail, hints at his perceived importance, and their relationship. The portrait's existence raises questions about the role of anonymity in art. What does it mean for the artist to remain unknown, while the subject is immortalized? Perhaps it speaks to the complex power dynamics inherent in portraiture, where the artist's identity may be overshadowed by the sitter's status. As viewers, we are invited to reflect on the narratives we construct around images and the stories they tell about individuals and society.