Tekenkunst toont haar werk aan Mercurius 1805

Ludwig Gottlieb Portman created this print called 'Tekenkunst toont haar werk aan Mercurius' in the late 18th or early 19th century. In this scene, the artist is presenting her drawings to the Roman god Mercury. Note how Portman uses classical imagery to elevate the status of drawing as an art form. By depicting the artist as a muse presenting her work to a god, Portman emphasizes the intellectual and cultural value of art within society. Prints like these circulated widely in the Netherlands. They would have helped to promote artistic education and patronage. The Rijksmuseum itself was established in this period, reflecting a broader cultural shift towards valuing art as a public good. By studying Portman's print, we gain insight into the cultural and institutional forces that shaped artistic production and reception in the Netherlands during this era. Researching period writings on art theory or institutional records of art academies could further illuminate the print's significance.