Herinneringen aan wijlen vrouwe Henrietta Maria Anna Meijer c. 1867

This book, "Memories of the late Lady Henrietta Maria Anna Meijer," was written by Robert Daniel Wolterbeek in memory of Meijer, who also seems to be the artist of the portrait on the left. The book was made in the Netherlands. In the 19th century, books of remembrance such as this one were often privately published within families. These books offer invaluable insights into the values of the Dutch middle class. They were meant to immortalize the memory of the deceased. The inscription at the bottom of the title page states that the book is ‘dedicated to her children and grandchildren’, suggesting that the intended readership was domestic. In this way, the book operated as a tool of social cohesion. It also implies that the book was a gift. To understand more about the social context surrounding the book, historians might look at family archives or other private sources. Such sources can help us better understand how this book functioned as a cultural artifact.