Portret van Martinus Snethlage 1743

Jacob Folkema made this print, Portret van Martinus Snethlage, using etching, amongst other techniques. It depicts a pastor in Amsterdam. The visual codes of clothing and pose denote social status. Snethlage is dressed in the garb of a pastor, complete with a formal robe and white bands at the neck. His powdered wig was typical of the Dutch upper class. The gesture of his hand is one of speaking and teaching. The Latin inscription tells us that the sculptor captured his likeness and expressed his inner gifts. The Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, like other national museums in Europe, was founded in the 19th century to display national art and artifacts. Prints like this one would have been collected as records of prominent citizens, part of a larger project of documenting national identity. Understanding this portrait requires placing it within its historical and institutional context. Researching the sitter, the artist, and the institutions that collected and displayed the work helps us understand its significance. Art’s meaning is always contingent on its historical setting.