Portret van een onbekende man met snor 1843 - 1887

This small etching of an unknown, mustachioed man was made by Frederik Hendrik Weissenbruch, a Dutch artist, sometime in the mid-19th century. The Netherlands at this time were undergoing rapid social and political change. The old certainties of the Dutch Golden Age had long passed, but it was a time of building new national institutions. Weissenbruch worked in the Hague School style, and was known for his landscape painting, however this etching demonstrates his mastery of portraiture, too. The identity of the sitter is unknown, yet his features and dress strongly suggest a man of professional standing. It is a reminder that while the paintings that were displayed in museums and galleries were often large and imposing, there was also a thriving market for smaller images such as this. Understanding the social and institutional context is vital to art history. By consulting archives, period publications, and other historical resources, we can appreciate how art reflects its time.