Portret van A.J. Hamerster Possibly 1864

This is Johann Peter Berghaus’s portrait of A.J. Hamerster, made sometime in the mid-19th century. It's a lithograph, a newly democratized medium at the time, capable of rendering nuanced detail. Portraits like this offer a glimpse into the social hierarchies of the era. Hamerster is depicted with a somber expression, characteristic of the time, but his clothing speaks volumes. The high collar and neatly tailored suit reflect his position and status, indicative of the male, bourgeois class who were consolidating power during this time. Consider how Berghaus, as the artist, was navigating his own identity and status through his artistic production, capturing the likeness and projecting the authority of his sitter. While the image appears straightforward, it encapsulates the complex negotiations of identity, class, and representation in 19th-century Dutch society.