Portret van Witte de With 1818 - 1876

Carel Christiaan Antony Last made this portrait of Witte de With using etching and engraving techniques. Produced in the Netherlands in the 19th century, this print exemplifies the public role of art in shaping historical memory. The politics of imagery are evident in its reverential depiction of a Dutch naval hero, Witte de With. The print participates in a broader cultural project of national identity formation, mythologizing figures from the Dutch Golden Age. The portrait's visual codes reflect the socio-political values of its time, the way Last's engraving is displayed in institutions such as the Rijksmuseum tells us that art is not just aesthetic; it is also deeply embedded in social and institutional contexts. To truly understand this work, historians delve into archives, libraries, and museum collections, uncovering the layers of meaning embedded within it.