Portret van Frans Hals, naar een zelfportret before 1909

This is a print after a self-portrait of Frans Hals, made by Mary Hector Rupert Cantineau. The practice of copying the work of acknowledged masters was common in art schools. Prints such as these allowed artists to study and disseminate exemplary works. This image refers back to the Dutch Golden Age, a period when artists like Frans Hals were reshaping the relationship between art and the market. In the Dutch Republic, the traditional patronage system of church and aristocracy was less dominant, and artists had to appeal to a broader middle-class audience. This print of Hals is thus rooted in a specific moment of art history. It demonstrates the enduring appeal of particular artists, but also speaks to the institutional structures that shape artistic production and reception. Understanding such images requires examining the social and economic conditions of their creation. We must consider the public role of art, the politics of imagery, and the social conditions that shape artistic production, using the full range of historical resources available to us.