Portret van mevrouw Van Hamel 1829 - 1888

Johan Heinrich Neuman made this pencil drawing, “Portrait of Mrs. Van Hamel,” sometime in the mid-19th century. The formal portrait was a popular genre during this time, especially among the rising middle class of the Netherlands. The subject's clothing and accessories tell us much about her social standing. Notice her lace bonnet and collar, details that speak to her family's wealth and status. The meticulous rendering of her features suggests the sitter’s desire to be seen in a certain light, as a respectable and refined woman. While the artwork itself doesn't overtly critique social norms, we can use historical research to understand the broader context in which it was made. Census records, genealogical databases, and historical newspapers can all help us to understand this artwork and the society that produced it. Art historians can help us to understand art as a product of its own time.