Portret van Johann Conrad Rücker 1744 - 1746

This is Jacob Houbraken's portrait of Johann Conrad Rücker, made in the Netherlands in the 18th century. It's an engraving, a printmaking technique that allows for the wide distribution of images. In this period, the Dutch Republic was a major center for both trade and intellectual life. Portraiture played a crucial role in constructing social identity. Here, the prominent wig, the formal attire, and the framing device all speak to the sitter's status and role within society. Houbraken's engraving, with its emphasis on detail and clarity, reflects a broader cultural interest in observation and documentation. Prints like these were often collected into books, forming visual archives of notable figures. As historians, we examine not only the individual depicted, but also the networks of patronage, the artistic techniques, and the systems of dissemination that shaped the image and its reception. By consulting period documents, such as guild records and personal correspondence, we can better understand the rich social context of this portrait.