Portret van Pieter Hendrik Suringar 1851

This lithograph was made in 1853 in Amsterdam by Leonard de Koningh and depicts Pieter Hendrik Suringar. The portrait captures a man of learning, identified as a 'Mag. Doctor en Professor'. This was a time of increasing professionalization in Dutch society, and the portrait reflects the growing importance of academic credentials. Lithography itself played a role in shaping cultural life. As a relatively inexpensive medium for reproducing images, it facilitated the wider dissemination of knowledge and ideas. Portraits like this one served to commemorate individuals but also to project an image of respectability and authority. To fully understand this work, we might delve into the archives of the University of Amsterdam or explore publications from the period. This portrait is more than just a likeness; it is a cultural artifact embedded in the social and institutional history of the Netherlands.