Oude man met muts 1741 - 1820

Abraham Delfos made this drawing of an old man with a cap in the late 18th century. Delfos was working in a period when the Dutch Republic was in decline, facing economic and political challenges. The rise of the merchant class in Dutch society created a demand for portraits and genre scenes. It also coincides with the rise of art academies which promoted the study of the human figure. The study of the features and expressions can be understood in the context of an increasing interest in science and in the documentation of human diversity. Historians study these kinds of images by examining period sources, such as art criticism, to understand the prevailing aesthetic values. They might also look at social histories and costume books to understand the dress codes and cultural values associated with different social classes. In the end, what seems a simple portrait of a man can open a window onto the social and intellectual worlds of the past.