Portret van Willem Bilderdijk aan zijn schrijftafel 1797 - 1836

This engraving, "Portret van Willem Bilderdijk aan zijn schrijftafel," by Philippus Velijn, depicts Willem Bilderdijk, a renowned Dutch poet, historian, and literary critic, seated at his writing desk. The image, created between 1797 and 1836, captures Bilderdijk in a contemplative pose, his hand resting on his chin as if lost in thought. The portrait, now housed in the Rijksmuseum, is a striking example of portraiture of the era, emphasizing the subject's intellectual pursuits and prominence.