Portret van Jan van Borssele van der Hooge 1754

Pieter Tanjé created this print of Jan van Borssele van der Hooge sometime in the 18th century. It is a finely detailed engraving, likely intended to circulate among a relatively wealthy and educated elite in the Netherlands. Looking at the work, we see a man of status, indicated by his elaborate wig, fine clothing, and confident pose. Van Borssele’s armor, combined with the family crest in the background, evokes a sense of lineage and authority, pointing towards a culture that valued inherited status. The Dutch Republic, at this time, was a major center of global trade, and portraits like these reinforced the power and prestige of its ruling classes. To understand this image, we have to look at the structures of power and representation in 18th century Netherlands, and the ways that institutions like portraiture were used to communicate social status. Investigating family histories and archival documents would help us to understand the world in which this portrait was created and consumed.