Silhouetportret van D. Monnier 1809 - 1848

Pieter Barbiers the Fourth made this silhouette portrait of D. Monnier at an unknown date with paper. Silhouette portraits like this one gained popularity in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, when it was seen as a cheaper, quicker alternative to painted miniature portraits. But it's not just about ease and cost. The silhouette also speaks volumes about social structures in the Netherlands at the time. Notice the sitter's clothing, with the high collar and the formal coat. These visual codes suggest a person of status, likely a member of the middle or upper class. Silhouettes also reflect the burgeoning interest in physiognomy, the idea that one could discern character from physical appearance. While we now know physiognomy to be pseudoscience, it was a popular intellectual pursuit at the time. It was even seen as a tool for social sorting. As historians, we might look into the archives to find out who D. Monnier was, what he did, and how his identity might intersect with the rise of silhouette portraiture. The meaning of such an artwork is always contingent on its social and historical moment.