Portret van Cornelis Willem Opzoomer 1840 - 1886

Dirk Jurriaan Sluyter created this portrait of Cornelis Willem Opzoomer using lithography, a printmaking technique that allowed for more affordable reproductions and wider distribution of images. Consider the social and intellectual landscape of the 19th century Netherlands. Opzoomer was a prominent philosopher and legal scholar, deeply engaged in the intellectual debates of his time. His work often grappled with questions of ethics, law, and the role of reason in society. Sluyter has captured him in a moment of thoughtful repose. Portraits like this served to solidify the status and legacy of influential figures. Yet, they also invite us to reflect on the individuals behind the public personas. What were their contributions and how did they shape the world around them? In rendering Opzoomer with such detail, Sluyter offers a glimpse into the intellectual and social circles that defined the Dutch Golden Age.