Diederik van Bleyswijk (1711-63), Baron of Eethen and Meeuwen, Lord of Babiloniënbroek, Burgomaster of Gorkum 1761

Conrad Kuster painted this portrait of Diederik van Bleyswijk, an 18th-century Baron and Burgomaster, with oil on canvas. The oval composition, with its soft green background, frames a figure of considerable presence. The dark coat and powdered wig create a striking contrast, drawing our eyes to the baron's face and hands. Notice how Kuster uses colour to articulate social standing. The dark hues of the coat, offset by the bright lace cuffs, speak to the sitter's status and authority. The subject's hands are posed expressively, almost theatrically, destabilizing the rigid conventions of portraiture at that time. We could see Kuster's approach as part of a broader cultural movement. Through his play with line and form, he questions fixed notions of identity and representation, suggesting a more fluid understanding of social roles. Ultimately, this portrait is not just a likeness but a study in the semiotics of power.