Wernerus Köhne (1725/26-88), Notary of Haarlem, with his Clerk Jan Bosch 1787

Wybrand Hendriks painted this oil on canvas portrait of Wernerus Köhne with his clerk in Haarlem. The painting draws us into the world of 18th-century Dutch bureaucracy through its formal arrangement. The composition, with its strong verticals and horizontals, stabilizes the scene, yet subtle diagonals introduce a sense of movement. Köhne sits at a table covered with a green cloth, his figure a dark mass against the lighter background. His gaze is directed towards us, inviting us into his space. The clerk, standing, occupies a secondary plane, his gesture suggesting the ongoing nature of their work. Hendriks uses color sparingly. The muted palette—dominated by blacks, greens, and creams—creates a somber atmosphere. This is offset by the crisp whites of the papers and the clerk's powdered wig. The textures are rendered with care, from the smooth surface of the table to the patterned wallpaper. Through these formal elements, Hendriks captures a moment of quiet intensity. A seemingly simple portrait becomes a study of power, representation, and the structures of daily life.