Portret van Jules Victor Genisson 1842

Coenraad Hamburger made this portrait of Jules Victor Genisson with graphite around 1842. The image gives us a window into the social codes of the Netherlands at this time. Genisson's clothing and grooming indicate a certain level of social standing, as does the very act of commissioning a portrait. What was the relationship between artist and sitter? Was Hamburger, who trained at the Royal Academy of Visual Arts, seeking patronage from men such as Genisson? Was Genisson someone who was part of the cultural or political life of the Netherlands? To answer these questions, we might consult historical archives, genealogical records, or period newspapers and journals. Art, after all, is always embedded in the social and institutional contexts that shape its creation and reception.