Portret van Johanna Koerten 1729

Jacob Houbraken made this engraving, "Portrait of Johanna Koerten," sometime between 1698 and 1780. The image commemorates Koerten, a Dutch artist known for her exceptional silhouette cuttings, a popular art form at the time. The print layers Koerten's portrait with symbolic imagery; angels, heraldic symbols, and ornate borders elevated her status. This reflects the Dutch Republic's emerging culture of celebrating individual achievement. The engraving demonstrates how the institutions of art, like academies and printmaking workshops, played a role in shaping artistic reputations. The Rijksmuseum's acquisition of this print also speaks to the public role of art in preserving cultural memory and defining historical narratives. By examining archival materials, exhibition records, and contemporary writings, we can gain a deeper understanding of the social conditions that shaped both the production and reception of this image. In the end, this portrait becomes a window into the complex interplay of gender, artistic skill, and cultural values in 18th-century Netherlands.