Portret van Hendrik Tollens 1847 - 1883

Hendrik Wilhelmus Last created this print of Hendrik Tollens, and it now resides in the Rijksmuseum. In the 19th century, the rise of the middle class and increased literacy created a demand for accessible imagery. Portrait prints like this one became a popular way to disseminate images of prominent figures. Looking closely, the lithographic technique allows for subtle gradations of tone, giving the portrait a lifelike quality. The sitter’s attire, a dark suit and tie, signifies his status and respectability within Dutch society. The signature below the portrait suggests that this print may have been intended for distribution amongst the sitter's circle of acquaintances. To understand fully the role of such images, we might turn to sources such as period newspapers, letters, and other printed ephemera to discover how these images functioned within the social and cultural life of the Netherlands. By doing so, we can begin to understand the public role of art and the social conditions that shape artistic production.