Portrait of J.P. Fockema Andreae 1933

In 1933, Isaac Israels painted this portrait of J.P. Fockema Andreae, likely in oil on canvas. Israels was a Dutch painter known for his impressionistic style and depictions of modern life. In this portrait, Andreae is portrayed with the regalia of public office. He holds what appears to be an official document. It offers insight into the power structures of the time. The Netherlands in the 1930s was a society marked by increasing social stratification and political tensions. This portrait, commissioned or perhaps offered as a gift, would serve to affirm the sitter's position within that society. The fact that it was painted at all reveals the ongoing importance of portraiture as a tool for self-fashioning and the promotion of a specific social class. By researching Israels' commissions and the sitter's biography, we can deepen our understanding of the painting as an artifact of its time.