Portret van François van Aerssen 1858 - 1862

Frederik Hendrik Weissenbruch created this print of François van Aerssen, using etching and possibly other techniques. This portrait participates in a long tradition of depicting powerful men, connecting Aerssen to that visual lineage. In this etching, the formal pose and the details of clothing and setting work together to communicate status, authority, and cultural refinement. The print was made in the Netherlands, and likely in the 19th century. The Dutch Republic has a long history of artistic innovation and the art market had a profound influence on artistic production. Etchings like this were often made for a growing middle class. To understand it better, we might turn to period documents, histories of the Dutch Republic, or studies of portraiture. The meaning of this image, and how it communicates power, is tied to the specific social and institutional context of its time.