Portret van Jan Baptist van Deynum 1649 - 1662

Coenraet Waumans made this print of Jan Baptist van Deynum, likely in the mid-17th century. This portrait embodies the visual codes of status in the Dutch Golden Age. Jan Baptist is shown in armor, with lace cuffs, a commanding gaze, and elegant long hair. The armor references his role as Captain of a Company of bourgeois in Antwerp, which at this time was under Spanish rule. The details of his clothing and his confident bearing signal his elevated social and economic standing. Prints like these served multiple purposes. They circulated images of prominent citizens, reinforcing social hierarchies and cultural values. But they also show us the importance of civic engagement during a period of shifting political power and how individual portraits were vital in constructing and disseminating particular notions of identity and social position. To fully understand this image, historians delve into archival records, genealogical research, and studies of material culture to understand the social and institutional contexts that gave it meaning.