Portret van Willem V 1789

Mathias de Sallieth painted this portrait of Willem V in 1789 with watercolor and gouache on paper, traditional art materials. Yet these materials have been carefully rendered to convey the textures of elite life. Look closely at the gold embellishments of Willem's jacket, the sheen of his sash, and the dull gleam of his riding boots. Each one is painstakingly created with layers of paint that mimic the qualities of fine textiles and leather goods. Consider the social context of such a portrait: It was likely commissioned to project an image of wealth, power, and sophistication. The labor involved in producing textiles and leather was immense, a fact that a portrait like this would have obscured. In the 18th century, the display of wealth in the arts was a form of propaganda and an assertion of social hierarchy. This portrait invites us to think about how the qualities of materials and making processes are harnessed to convey social status.