Portret van Johannes Jacobus Vitriarius 1698 - 1776

Johannes de Groot made this portrait of Johannes Jacobus Vitriarius using etching and engraving techniques. Produced in the Netherlands, during the 18th century, this portrait is part of a broader phenomenon: the rise of the bourgeois individual. Vitriarius, with his powdered wig and serious gaze, is presented as a figure of importance and intellect. But portraits like this one didn't just reflect social standing, they actively constructed it. Think about the institutions that supported this kind of art – the print shops, the art academies, and the patronage systems. These institutions played a role in shaping not just artistic styles, but also social values. To understand this portrait, you would have to delve into the archives – examining guild records, estate inventories, and perhaps even Vitriarius's own writings. By doing so, we can start to unpack the complex social and institutional forces that shaped both the artwork and the world in which it was made.