Portret van Hendrick Dircksz. Spiegel 1749 - 1796

Jacob Houbraken created this print of Hendrick Dircksz. Spiegel, a mayor of Amsterdam, sometime between 1698 and 1780. The image presents us with a man of the Dutch Golden Age, a period of immense economic and cultural flourishing for the Netherlands, though built on the back of colonial exploitation and trade. Spiegel’s attire – his somber hat and the dark fabric of his coat – speaks to his status, a visual representation of power and civic duty. Yet, portraiture from this era often flattens the individual, turning them into symbols of their office and class. We can only imagine the personal negotiations Spiegel navigated as a member of the ruling class in Amsterdam. This portrait is not just an image of a man; it is a mirror reflecting the complex interplay of power, identity, and representation in the Dutch Golden Age.