Mansportret c. 1757 - 1819

This is Roeland van Eynden's "Mansportret," made in the late 18th century using pen and brush in gray. Van Eynden was working in a time when the Dutch Republic was fading and new social and political ideas were emerging. The portrait itself, encased in an oval frame, speaks to the traditions of portraiture used to solidify the identities and status of the sitter. Note the elaborate wig, the fine clothing, and the inclusion of a coat of arms. This is a person of importance, likely a member of the ruling class. But I also want you to think about the very act of portraiture during this period and how it intersects with questions of identity and power. Who gets remembered? Whose stories get told? And how do these visual representations reinforce existing social hierarchies? As you reflect on this image, consider what it means to have one's likeness preserved and displayed, and what this says about the values of the society that produced it.