Knielende man, naar rechts 1719

Louis Fabritius Dubourg made this drawing of a kneeling man in the 18th century using pen and brown ink. It is held at the Rijksmuseum. Depicting a man in a seemingly humble position, it is tempting to ask whether this piece comments on the social structures of its time. Dubourg was active in a period when the Academy was formalising its hierarchy of genres and championing history painting as the most elevated form of art. This was upheld by the monarchy and aristocracy as well as the church, who were all major patrons of the arts. Yet, Dubourg was a landscapist. His careful attention to the natural world speaks to shifting values and the rising status of landscape painting. He was among the generation of artists who created an opening for new kinds of artistic expression, influenced by the enlightenment and new models of patronage. Understanding such social and institutional contexts requires us to look beyond the image itself, delving into archives, publications, and other historical sources to enrich our understanding of art and its role in society.