Portret van een onbekende man, mogelijk F.L.F. Horst 1845

This is a portrait of an unknown man, possibly F.L.F. Horst, made by Johann Peter Berghaus, probably in the Netherlands. This portrait creates meaning through its depiction of bourgeois dress codes and manners. The man’s clothing is fashionable, but the precise details of his vest, jacket and bow tie also give clues about his social class and profession. Lithography was a relatively new medium in the 19th century, which made the mass production of images possible. This technological advancement facilitated the distribution of images for scientific, political and commercial purposes. The Rijksmuseum, where this piece is housed, was founded in the early 19th century to reflect national art and history. As the art market and museum culture grew, they contributed to the development of a national cultural identity. To understand the social context of this portrait, we need to research the history of fashion, printing technology, and the development of Dutch national identity.