Portret van Richard van Rees 1826 - 1880

This is a portrait of Richard van Rees, made by Pieter Wilhelmus van de Weijer, using lithography. In this formal portrait, van Rees wears the robes of office. Its visual codes are those of power and status, common among the political and intellectual elite in the Netherlands at that time. The portrait’s existence speaks to a culture that values public service. But it is also an artifact of institutional history, reflecting the rising importance of the printed image in the nineteenth century. Lithography enabled the relatively cheap reproduction of images, which drove a growing market for individual portraits. Was the creation of this portrait a conservative act? Did it critique the institutions of art? These are some of the questions we can ask as we investigate the political and social context that shaped its production. To answer these questions, we can consult historical records such as letters, diaries, newspapers and institutional archives. Approaching the study of art in this way helps us understand art as something rooted in its time.