Portret van Carel Godfried Withuys before 1860

This is a portrait of Carel Godfried Withuys, held in the pages of a Jaarboekje voor Rederijkers, a yearbook for rhetoricians, and admirers of poetry. It's a tiny window into the cultural life of 19th-century Amsterdam. In this period, the Netherlands was consolidating its national identity, and literary societies played a role in shaping cultural values. Rhetoricians were keepers of tradition, but also innovators of language and thought. Withuys, captured here in a formal pose, embodies the respectability and intellectualism associated with this social sphere. What stories are held behind his eyes? What contributions did he make to the literary discourse of his time? This image is a reminder of the individuals who shaped the cultural landscape, whose identities and experiences are woven into the fabric of history. It invites us to reflect on the role of art and literature in shaping personal and collective identities.