Portret van Wilhelmus Peiffers 1751

Jacob Houbraken created this print of Wilhelmus Peiffers in the Netherlands. The image presents us with a man of importance; the architectural frame and lengthy inscription below position him as an eminent public figure. The meticulous detail achieved through the engraving process further elevates Peiffers’s status. Note his elaborate wig and clerical attire. These details speak to the codes of representation and social hierarchy prevalent in 18th-century Dutch society. The print was likely commissioned to commemorate Peiffers, reinforcing his position within the religious and social fabric of the community. To understand the print's full impact, we might consult period sources: church records, genealogical archives, and local histories that would illuminate Peiffers’s role in his community. The interpretation of art is always contingent on its social and institutional context.