Portret van de vrouw van Govert Flinck 1765 - 1828

Carl Ernst Christoph Hess made this portrait of the wife of Govert Flinck using etching. Hess was active during a time of shifting social structures and artistic conventions, with portraiture often reflecting the subject's status and role within society. The woman in the portrait is adorned in jewelry and elaborate clothing which signifies her position within Dutch society. The etching captures a tender image of the sitter, yet it simultaneously speaks to the limited agency of women during this time, whose identities were often defined by their relationships to men. What does it mean to be known solely as someone’s wife? Hess’s work invites reflection on how identities are constructed and perceived within specific historical and social contexts. It serves as a poignant reminder of the complexities inherent in representing individuals, especially women, whose stories have often been overshadowed.