Portret van Cornelis Pruys van der Hoeven Possibly 1855 - 1858

Editor: Here we have a print titled *Portret van Cornelis Pruys van der Hoeven,* made sometime between 1855 and 1858 by Johann Peter Berghaus, currently housed at the Rijksmuseum. It's quite a formal portrait; what strikes you most about it? Curator: It's the air of respectability that radiates outwards. Look at the subject, Cornelis; he's depicted with a direct gaze, formal attire, seated calmly. There is an attempt to capture not just likeness but *essence*, a reverence that extends beyond the individual. Editor: Reverence in what way? The man himself or the style of representation? Curator: Both, I'd say. The image aims to create a lasting legacy. Consider the Neoclassical influences here: the careful detail, the balanced composition— all meant to elevate the sitter to the status of a respected figure, worth remembering. This image will continue to hold meaning as a cultural artifact. Don't you find it remarkable how portraits can tell a story, beyond the person represented? Editor: Definitely. I hadn't really thought about the Neoclassical element as constructing memory. It’s like, even through a print, there is this lasting story. Thank you for making me look at this artwork from a different perspective! Curator: My pleasure. These symbols help us remember what was considered important. This can open a new chapter on how people memorialize themselves in imagery, a collective story if you will.