Kavalier auf einer Chaiselongue 

Cornelis Troost made this drawing of a gentleman on a chaise lounge some time in the first half of the 18th century. It tells us a good deal about the culture of the Netherlands at that time. The pose of studied indolence is a visual shorthand indicating the social class of the sitter. This is someone who need not work for a living. We know that in this period Amsterdam was one of the financial capitals of the world. But, in order to maintain its status, it also needed to create a culture of gentility and taste. This drawing is a small but significant expression of that impulse. To understand the work of Troost, we would need to look into sources such as period fashion guides and social commentaries, and analyze the ways in which the Dutch Republic negotiated its sense of national identity during its long decline. Ultimately, art’s meaning is contingent on this wider social and institutional context.