Portret van Hendrik Frederik Christoph Forstner van Dambenoy 1852

This is a portrait of Hendrik Frederik Christoph Forstner van Dambenoy by Andries Wiemans Cz., made with pencil and graphite. The portrait offers a glimpse into the values and social structures of 19th-century Dutch society. Forstner's military attire tells us about the importance of military service in the Netherlands. His stern expression hints at the stoicism expected of those in positions of authority. The Netherlands at this time was a constitutional monarchy with a complex relationship between its military, its aristocracy, and its burgeoning merchant class. Portraits like these can be read alongside other kinds of historical documents—letters, diaries, newspapers, financial records, and so on—to provide a richer understanding of the period. These sources, when taken together, help us to understand the social conditions that shaped the production of the artwork. Ultimately, the meaning of art is contingent on social and institutional context.