Portret van Cornelis van der Burg c. 1734 - 1801

Jacobus Buys made this portrait of Cornelis van der Burg using pen, gray ink, and brush on paper. Buys was working in a time of vast social and economic change, as the Dutch Republic was beginning to decline and was on the cusp of revolution. It’s a very interesting historical moment. Looking at this small portrait, we see Cornelis framed in an oval, an almost classical or romantic vision of masculinity in this era. What does it mean to look at a portrait of a man from the 1700s? This work may remind us of the vast inequalities of the time. Cornelis is presented as an important man whose identity was tied to his class and position in society. What do you think about when considering the lives of those who were excluded from such representation and power? Portraits like this offer a glimpse into the past, inviting us to consider how identity and representation have evolved.