Portret van een man, vermoedelijk Augustijn Wtenbogaert (1577-1655) 1861

This is an undated print by Johannes Arnoldus Boland, likely made using a process derived from 17th century copperplate engraving. It depicts a man believed to be Augustijn Wtenbogaert. Boland was working in the Netherlands at a time when there was considerable interest in revisiting the Dutch Golden Age of the previous centuries. We might view this portrait as part of that trend. Wtenbogaert was an important figure of the Dutch Reformation, who played a key role in the rise of the Remonstrant movement. This movement challenged some of the central Calvinist doctrines of the established church. Boland's image, created more than two centuries after Wtenbogaert's death, speaks to the ongoing religious and political debates within Dutch society. The print may reflect a desire to revisit and perhaps rehabilitate a controversial figure from the nation's past. To understand this work fully, it’s vital to investigate the printmaking techniques used, the artistic trends of the 19th century Netherlands, and the complex religious history of the Dutch Republic.