['Portrait of Cornelis van Aerssen (1600/02-1662), Lord of Sommelsdijk', 'Cornelis van Aerssen (1600-62), Lord of Sommelsdijk, Colonel of Cavalry'] 1658

Adriaen Hanneman painted this portrait of Cornelis van Aerssen, Lord of Sommelsdijk, sometime in the mid-17th century. The Dutch Golden Age was a period of unprecedented economic growth and cultural flourishing, but also stark social stratification. Here, the portrayal of van Aerssen as a military man, clad in armor, speaks to the power and privilege afforded to men of his class during the period. But it is also a performance of identity, a carefully constructed image designed to project authority and status. Note the family crest at the upper left; a clear visual marker of lineage and nobility. It's hard not to see the emotional register as one of self-satisfaction and a measure of pride. The work encourages us to consider the narratives of power and masculinity that were so central to Dutch society, and how these ideals shaped not only the lives of individuals like van Aerssen, but also the broader cultural landscape of the era.