Portret van Willem Mensert 1835

Leonard de Koningh made this portrait of Willem Mensert using lithography in the Netherlands, though we don’t know exactly when. In the 19th century, lithography democratized image production and distribution. The artist’s choice of this medium is therefore interesting, as it reflects the increasing importance of science and medicine in Dutch society and the need to disseminate knowledge widely. It enabled the circulation of Mensert's likeness beyond elite circles. Mensert was not just any doctor, as is specified under his signature, he was a ‘surgeon doctor’ and a ‘honorary doctor of his Majesty the King of the Netherlands’. The medal he wears reinforces this idea of status and position within the order of the Dutch Kingdom. To understand this work better, historians might look at Dutch medical journals, records of scientific societies, and royal archives. Such sources could reveal the specific contributions of Mensert and the broader social and institutional context in which he operated. We can therefore appreciate the portrait not just as an individual likeness, but as a sign of the changing status of science and medicine in the Netherlands.