Portret van Ernestina Regina Barbara Helmich-Schade van Westrum 1832 - 1873

Wilhelmus Cornelis Chimaer van Oudendorp created this lithograph portrait of Ernestina Regina Barbara Helmich-Schade van Westrum in the Netherlands. The piece offers a glimpse into the visual codes of 19th-century Dutch society. The way Ernestina is depicted speaks volumes about her social standing. The delicate lace of her dress, her jewelry, and the plush fur stole all signify wealth and status. The inclusion of flowers and draped fabric in the background further emphasizes her refined environment. We see here the visual language of power and privilege. Understanding this artwork means situating it within the broader social and institutional context of the time. Research into Dutch portraiture, fashion history, and the social history of the Dutch elite would reveal much more. Art history helps us to understand the social conditions that shaped artistic production.